Sodexo Strife

Since its arrival on campus, Sodexo – GW’s dining services contractor – has received much flak from the student body over food quality and hours of operation. But as of this week, Sodexho now has a brand new concern – a fiery D.C. workers’ union.

The Unite Here Local 25 Union is accusing Sodexo of laying off WOW Wingery employees under false pretenses and has compelled the company into legal mediations. The latest development marks the second complaint regarding the subcontracting of the Hippodrome’s Wingery to a non-union entity.

The union claims that the restaurant was never subcontracted, but rather, still under the control of Sodexo.  As evidence that the eatery is still under Sodexo’s realm, the union points to two D.C. business and liquor licenses – both still in the name of the corporation’s GW manager. 

Union leaders are seeking, among other things, the reinstatement and salary compensation of workers that were fired as a result of the supposed management change.

This is not the first beef J Street employees have had with Sodexo management. Last march, 40 workers signed a petition against the company, claiming unacceptable working conditions and verbal harassment at the hands of Sam Ramos – Sodexo’s Director of Operations at the university.

Ramos has habitually rejected interview requests by GW student media – including the Hatchet and WRGW.

- Jared Pliner

Dupont High Heels Race Turns Political

Thousands of spectators packed 17^th Street last night for the 23rd annual High Heels Race. Anticipation ran high as shrieks pierced the alcohol laden air as dozens of drag queens pranced down the stretch between Church and R streets near Dupont Circle.

The political environment just one week before the election inspired a handful of Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain look-alikes. Men dressed as Joe the Plumbers and Todd Palin also made appearances.  Cher and Princess Diana were in attendance with some others simply putting on glamorous dresses and high heels.

At least one Palin impersonator proclaimed his love for lipstick while wearing a pig snout and ears – a throwback to the controversy earlier in the political season when the real Governor Palin joked that lipstick was the only difference between her and a pit bull.

Actual politicians like D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty made appearances along with Jack Evans who is seeking reelection to represent Ward 2, which includes Foggy Bottom.

The actual race lasted a mere 1 minute 50 seconds, with those near the starting line sprinting from the gate towards the finish line. Others took their time, posed for pictures, and strut towards the end.

Voux Jyna won wearing a flesh colored body stocking and a purple boa. She reportedly won a trophy and a $50 bar tab to JR’s Bar and Grill.

 - Jesse Regis

Law & Order: GWU

First up, an individual affiliated with GW reported a theft from his car parked off-campus. Upon returning to the car, he witnessed two suspects emerging from it, and took chase when they fled. He caught one suspect, and held him until officers arrived. The individual reported a few items stolen, including a laptop and charger and a pair of sunglasses.

In other parking news, two employees of the University Parking Garage reported being threatened by an individual unaffiliated with GW. The subject reportedly claimed that he would throw urine at the employees if they did not stop bothering him while he was trying to sleep in the lower level of the parking garage. The employees called UPD, but the individual was gone by the time officers arrived.

In City Hall, a weapons policy violation was reported after a student called UPD on his friend.  He claimed during the phone call that the other student had brandished a knife at him when he knocked on the subject’s door in the middle of a disagreement. But UPD officers, after interviewing both subjects, discovered that both students agreed that the student with the knife simply had it on him, and had not in fact threatened the other student with it.  A community director was called in for an administrative search, and a folding knife was found lying on the living room table.

Our final case occurred in Thurston, where a suspicious odor was reported. The officer on patrol contacted the community director about the room. An administrative search yielded drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view, including a glass smoking pipe and grinder and less than 1 gram of marijuana residue.

- Jenn Neuner

Factions Begins

212 years after President Washington warned against the formation of political parties, they have by many accounts become a dominating force in politics. These bodies have fostered a discourse, which has often polarized the electorate. The result is Factions - WRGW’s online forum where members of the GW community will debate the issues facing the nation.

Just days until the 2008 Presidential Election, issues like the economy, healthcare, Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a variety of other issues will be debated online by five members of the George Washington College Democrats and five College Republicans. In a format inspired by the Political Arena on Politico.com, a moderator from WRGW will pose a question to the forum and designated members chosen by each organization will engage in conversation. Other people, whether they be affiliated with the CD’s or CR’s or not, are free to weigh in.

Check it out now at http://factions.wordpress.com!

-Jesse Regis

Gelman Full? Check Out the New Student Lounge.

Last week, Colonials Invasion, the infamous introduction of the basketball season, was accompanied by the opening of a new student lounge at 2145 G Street.  The space, previously a DJ’s Fastbreak, will be the new home of the spirit office as well as EMERG offices on the top floor.

The lounge features a big screen TV and couches, provided by the university, wireless internet access, desks and chairs for a quiet study area in the back, vending machines and a bathroom.  Students are encouraged to take advantage of the space after picking up lunch at the GW Deli and to make suggestions on how to improve the space to the staff.

The day after the official opening of the space on Thursday, Jeffrey Cohen, the Chair of the Department of English, sent an email to Helen Cannaday-Saulny, GW's Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Support Services to recommend that the lounge be made into a “funky noncorporate coffee [house] where students and faculty hang out together, go to poetry readings…”  As an inspiration for the space, Cohen suggests Busboys and Poets, an artsy café that has a location on 14th and V Streets where the English Department has been involved in some events.  

Other plans for the space have included a student-run business.  But in the meantime, students will probably appreciate having additional student lounge space as temperatures fall and winter approaches.

- Monika Wysocki

(Mostly) D.C. Sports Update

The Philadelphia Phillies are one game away from clinching their first World Series since 1980. The Phillies beat Tampa Bay in Game 4 at Philadelphia last night with a final score of 10-2. Philadelphia had 4 homeruns on the night, one of which came from pitcher Joe Blanton. Blanton became the first pitcher in 34 years to homer in the World Series. Game 5 will be held tonight, in Philadelphia at 8:00 pm eastern time.

The Washington Wizards finished the preseason with a loss to Cleveland. The Wizards had a final preseason record of just 2 and 5. The regular season begins on Wednesday at home against New Jersey.

Keeping with basketball, the George Washington University men and women’s basketball teams were introduced last Wednesday at the annual Colonial’s Invasion. During a shooting exercise with the men’s team, Head Coach Karl Hobbs said over the loudspeaker, “Jesus Christ, somebody make a basket.” Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come for the new season.

In hockey, the Washington Capitals snapped their losing streak on Saturday with a big overtime win against the Dallas Stars. Earlier in the week the caps fell in their road games against Calgary and Phoenix. Sergei Federov and Tomas Fleischmann each had two goals in regulation and Tyler Sloan gave the Caps a lead early in the third period. Dallas’s mike Modano tied the game at 5 all when he scored with just over a minute left on the clock. 2 minutes and 17 seconds into the sudden death overtime, Alexander Semin netted his 7^th goal of the season to win the game for Washington. Federov’s two goals brought his career total up to 475, making him the highest scoring Russian born player in NHL history. The Captials play at home tomorrow night against the Nashville predators.

Finally, the Washington Redskins beat the Detroit Lions yesterday. The final score was 25-17. Washington was statistically dominant the entire game in everything except for the score. Jason Campbell completed 23 of 28 for a season high 328 yards and a touchdown. Clinton Portis rushed for 128 yards on 24 attempts. This was the 5^th game in a row that Portis had over 120 yards on the ground. Big plays on special teams were critical for Washington as Santana Moss took a punt return 80 yards for a touchdown and kicker Shaun Suisham completed 4 field goals. The win improves the redskins’ record to 6 and 2. The next game is at home against the Pittsburg Steelers on Monday.

-Joe Lewis

Leonard Bernstein Remembered at Kennedy Center

Yesterday, Marin Alsop led the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a rare performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass at the Kennedy Center. The cast of performers was over 200 and included soloists, choirs, and a marching band.

2008 marks what would have been Bernstein’s 90^th birthday. Concert series have been held across the United States to commemorate his work as one of the most pivotal and well known American composers and conductors.

George Washington alumna Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis originally commissioned the mass for the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971.

While Bernstein’s mass was a special one time performance, the Kennedy Center is constantly hosting world class artists. Tickets for the remainder of the National Symphony Orchestra’s classical season are on sale and going fast. And don’t forget, free concerts are held every day at 6 pm on the Millennium Stage.

-Joe Lewis

Amnesty Debate Streches Campuses

Amidst the rush of last-minute get out the vote campaigns, members of the GW College Democrats and Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin got together on Monday to debate a topic which has been largely ignored by the presidential campaigns in the wake of the failing economy and the war on terror:  human rights issues, both domestically and abroad.

Choosing a New America:  Human Rights and the Presidential Election,” which was hosted by the GW chapter of Amnesty International and was moderated by GW professor and CNN special correspondent Frank Sesno, focused on a wide variety of topics, including wiretapping, Guantanamo Bay, same-sex marriage, and the genocide in Darfur.

On some issues, the students representing both presidential candidates - Senators Barack Obama and John McCain – seemed to agree for the most part.  For instance, both sides recognized their candidate’s desire to shut down Guantanamo Bay.  Allison Wagner, who represented the Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin, said that Guantanamo is a “symbol of degradation of human life.”

On other issues, the two sides were in clear opposition of one another.  On the subject of how to deal with the issue in Darfur, the students for McCain-Palin stated that their candidate believed in utilizing diplomacy before sending troops to Darfur, while Matt Ingolia, speaking for the GW Democrats, argued that “the solution will require more than just talk.”  James Jones, also of the GW Democrats, went on to add that darfurscore.com, a reputable website that grades congressmen on their stance on Darfur, gave Obama an ‘A,’ and McCain a ‘C.’

The debate, which took place in the Continental Ballroom in the Marvin Center, fostered vibrant discussion between the two major political parties, thanks in part to Sesno, who made a habit of asking follow-up questions, and allowing the debaters to pose questions to one another – tactics that were not seen frequently in the presidential debates.

- Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Van Ness-UDC

Van Ness-UDC may not be the most exciting metro stop in this series, but it does have a lot to offer – especially for all of you international affairs students.  The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this stop is embassies, embassies, embassies! 
 
Only a block or so from the metro's entrance is International Drive.  While it's not Embassy Row, International Drive is home to about 20 embassies including Austria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Israel, Jordon, Kuwait, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Singapore and the new Chinese embassy.  These embassies do hold public events, so it may be worth a trek to check them out.  Much of the architecture is extraordinary and holds true to the country's tradition.
 
A bit of a walk from the stop is the acclaimed bookstore, Politics & Prose.  If politics is your thing, this bookstore is definitely worth checking out.  They host author events almost daily.  Robert Kennedy Jr. was there earlier this week to talk about his book Robert Smalls, The Boat Thief.  
 
And you can't mention this stop without talking about UDC, the only public university in the District of Columbia.  This weekend is homecoming for UDC and they have a step show scheduled for tonight and a parade for tomorrow morning.  Ending the weekend is Jazz Alive on Monday night.  The program will feature musicians and ensembles from the university's jazz program.
 
Have a great weekend!  Next stop:  Tenlytown-AU

-Mallory Thompson

Law & Order: GWU

Up first, a theft was reported at the Lerner Health and Wellness Center. A student left his belongings in a locker, and returned to find that they were missing. A University Police sweep of lockers nearby yielded the student’s duffle bag in another locker. His wallet and cash had both been removed. Another theft in Lisner Hall: a staff member left her office unlocked and went to teach a class. She came back and found that her wallet was missing and that there were unauthorized charges on several of her credit cards.

At 1957 E Street a professor reported that he was being harassed by a non-GW student. The individual had apparently been asking repeatedly if he could audit the professor’s courses, and would not take “No” for an answer.

Ivory Tower was the scene of drug possession recently. An officer smelled marijuana on a routine patrol and called the on-call community director to the scene. In the room were 6 people, one of whom was a resident. An administrative search yielded 3.9 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, all of which were confiscated.

Another drug case, this one is Francis Scott Key. A suspicious odor led an officer to call the on-call community director who performed an administrative search of the identified room. They encountered 3 individuals in the room, two of which were residents. Among the items confiscated were 0.4 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Alcohol was also discovered and disposed of on scene.

One last drug case in Schenley Hall involving 2 individuals: a suspicious odor was reported, and the room in question was identified. A community director’s administrative search revealed that the suspicious odor was in fact a result of the 4.4 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia located in the room. All were confiscated.

- Jenn Neuner

GW Med School on Probation

After a bombshell report last week by an accrediting body placing the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences on probation, school officials appeared before the Board of Trustees on Friday to offer explanations.

Among the findings of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, it was revealed that the school failed to maintain acceptable methods of curriculum management, internal administrative processes, and failed to provide adequate study space for students. The school has a period of two years to satisfy the committee’s recommendations.

In a recent Washington Post article it was noted that of the 130 US and 17 Medical Schools the LCME oversees, GW is one of only five to receive probation since 1994 and the only school to be sanctioned as of late.

The SMHS has announced the formation of a corrective action plan to be submitted by January 2^nd. The committee is in collaboration with both the school and outside consultants in attempts to resolve the issues.

The only question remaining is why the medical school has declined to release the actual LCME report and its complete findings, which may both spur unnecessary panic and fuel concerns about the severity of the school’s violations.

- Jared Pliner

Let Basketball Season Begin!

Coming soon to a Smith Center near you…is Colonials Invasion! This Thursday, the entire GW community will come together to celebrate the official start of the basketball season.

Unlike previous years, this year’s Colonials Invasion will not have an outside performer, but rather, will have acts solely from GW students. Among the performers is the GW cheer team, Colonial Brass, the mascots, and numerous student groups. This year’s Colonials Invasion also marks the official inauguration of the new ‘George’ mascot. The old George will have a proper release through a video tribute and ceremony. Throughout the entire night, the finalist videos in GW’s ‘Show Your Spirit’ contest will be played, and the winning video will be played during all basketball home games.

Like in years past, Colonials Invasion comes with criticism, with many citing the university’s decision to hold the event at 8 pm rather than at midnight, like many other colleges. Freshman Victor Cai commented that the timing does not make sense, and the ability for other colleges to manage a midnight madness only proves that it is possible for GW.

When Colonials Invasion was originally organized to be in the evening, rather than the old midnight madness system to which GW subscribed, concerns that the crowd was drawn to the events, rather than the basketball team, were cited. Despite timing concerns, many are still willing to attend Colonials Invasion.

Colonials Invasion will be held this Thursday at 8 pm at the Smith Center.

- Zahin Hasan

Economic Crisis Causes Tuition Worries

US Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke said earlier this week that more government spending may be needed to combat economic weakness. Only a few blocks away, the economic crisis is beginning to seriously affect some GW students.

In an email advisory sent to all students and parents, Daniel E. Small, the Executive Director of Student Financial Assistance, provided information about opportunities available to prevent the existing economic conditions from adversely affecting students’ continued enrollment. Students are encouraged to keep the office informed of any significant changes to income, assets, college savings, or changes in employment. The office has waived the previously published deadline for the 2008-09 academic year to accommodate unanticipated changes. Students are also encouraged to look into the GW monthly payment plan, which allows families to make payments over a series of months rather than in one payment. Federal Stafford and Plus loans are still available. In addition, the office has an emergency loan program from which a GW student can borrow up to $600 in an interest- free loan for thirty days. Finally, for those students who are concerned about the 2009-10 academic year, the financial aid materials will be available in march 2009 and are due by April 24, 2009.

In response to the email, freshman Kelsi Browning says “I am glad that the office of financial aid is taking into account the declining economic situation and helping students that may be in need. I have a lot of loans and I want to be able to pay them.”

-Monika Wysocki

(Mostly) DC Sports Roundup

The Tampa Bay Rays are going to their first World Series after defeating the Red Sox last night in game 7 of the American League Conference Series. The final score was 3-1. This is the first playoff appearance by the Rays who were established in 1998. Tampa bay will face Philadelphia in the World Series. For the Phillies, this is their first national league pennant since 1993. They have one World Series title in 1980.

In hockey, the Washington Capitals are 3-1-1 since the beginning of the regular season. Last Monday the Caps trounced the Vancouver Canucks by a final score of 5-1. On Thursday the Capitals had their much anticipated first meeting with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Boyd Gordon’s third period goal proved to be the game winner as the Caps held on for a 4-3 road win. On Saturday, the Capitals hosted the New Jersey Devils at the Verizon Center. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation. No goals were scored in the 5 minute overtime period, which lead to the shootout. New Jersey forward Zach Parise scored the only shootout goal, giving the victory to the Devils. Washington will play the Calgary Flames tomorrow night in Alberta, Canada.

Finally, the redskins held on just long enough yesterday to defeat the Cleveland Browns with a final score of 14-11. After a scoreless first half, Clinton Portis had a 3-yard touchdown rush halfway through the third quarter for the first score of the game. In the fourth, Jason Campbell completed a pass to Santana Moss who ran half the length of the field for a 49 yard touchdown. Cleveland brought the game within 3 points after scoring a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion with 2:44 left to play. Browns kicker Phil Dawson missed what would have been a career-long 54-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play, sealing the win for Washington. The Redskins are 5-2, and will play at Detroit next Sunday.

- Joe Lewis

Colonials Weekend Draws Crowds, Laughs

This past weekend, parents came on campus from all over the country to visit their children for this year’s Colonial’s Weekend.

The three-day event, lasting from Friday to Sunday, featured many different events. On Saturday, the University offered students and their families “Classes from GW’s Best,” where different professors gave lectures on various subjects, mostly pertaining to what our next president will need to know. Subjects ranged from security, to performing arts, to the legacy of Jackie Robinson.

Also on Saturday, Associate Vice President and Dean of Freshman Fred Siegel hosted an open house at the Mount Vernon Alumnae House. Also on the Mount Vernon campus was Octoberfest, hosted by the Mount Vernon Programming Council, which included entertainment, arts and crafts, and desserts.

There were many other events as well, including Campaign GW’s tour of the campus’s twenty-year plan, a new plays festival, and dance lessons, where families got to learn various styles of dance, including waltz, salsa, and swing.

The highlight of Colonials Weekend, however, was the appearance of Robin Williams at the Smith Center. On both Friday and Saturday nights, Williams delivered a hilarious stand-up routine to two sold-out performances. His jokes, impressions, and occasional jab at the interpreter for the deaf, kept the audiences in hysterics throughout the evening. Poking fun at anything from GPS systems to the intricacies of the male and female reproductive organs, Williams’ performance was as shocking as it was funny.

But of course, as this is GW, Williams’ performances ended with an urge to go out and vote, reminding us all that, the election is drawing ever closer.

- Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Cleveland Park

Cleveland Park is a residential neighborhood in Northwest DC full of great architecture and wonderful restaurants. The neighborhood is known for its many 19^th century homes.

In the heart of Cleveland Park, you can find the National Cathedral. Explore the must-see details of the Cathedral’s dramatic art and Gothic architecture with a 30 minute guided tour Monday through Saturday from 10–11:30 am and 12:45–4 pm or 1-2:30 pm on Sundays. The recommended donation for students is $3.

While you’re in the area, next to the Cathedral is St. Alban’s all boys’ school where you can find a statue of George Washington similar to the one in Washington Circle.

Also, be sure to check out the historic art deco style Uptown Theater. It’s the biggest screen in the District - 40-feet high and about 70-feet long - with over 800 seats. It was opened by Warner Bros. on October 29, 1936. Hollywood studios occasionally have premiers here – for example, the world premier of “2001 – A Space Odyssey” was at the Uptown. First run, blockbuster mainstream movies are the mainstay. This weekend, you can see W., Oliver Stone’s biopic about the President.

Cleveland Park is also a foodies paradise. Dino is an Italian restaurant acclaimed for their wine selection. The owner is extremely knowledgeable on paring the proper wine with your meal, so ask for advice if you plan to dine here. Palena delivers delicious upscale American cuisine that the Washington Post calls, “some of the best food in town.” The food is artfully prepared by a former White House chef. While Dino and Palena probably aren’t for a student’s regular budget, 2 Amy’s is. A pizzeria that the Washington Post calls “mouthwatering,” the price of a meal is under $20. The pizza is Neapolitan-style and has a decent wine list. Also, check out the award winning “little plates.” It’s pretty popular, especially on weekends, so go early or you may have to wait for a table.

Have a great weekend! Next stop: Van Ness-UDC

- Mallory Thompson

Max Raabe Performs at Lisner

Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra came to the Lisner Auditorium on Tuesday and performed a variety of songs from their latest album.

Performing in front of a nearly packed auditorium, the orchestra showed the vigor, personality, and humor it is well known for. Their latest CD is a compilation of songs from the 20s and 30s, and has been very well received by critics. Raabe and his orchestra all originate in Germany, and the majority of the CD has German songs from that era. However, notable songs sung in English included, “Singing in the Rain,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “You’re the Cream in my Coffee,” and “I’ll Kiss Your Hand, Dear Lady.” Besides the beautifully interpreted music, Raabe also has an amazing stage presence, and is capable of eliciting both excitement from the music, and sadness from his tone. However, he also is quite the wit, and had the audience regularly cracking up throughout the performance.

An after the show interview with several of the band members revealed that what may seem like a carefree and easy performance on stage is actually quite the opposite. Baritone Saxophonist Rainier Fox says of the band, “Max is quite the perfectionist. It may seem easy on stage to perform, but it is much harder to look like its easy, act like its funny, and perform well than what we portray on stage. It takes quite a bit of practice.”

Aside from his latest CD, Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra have released covers that include such well known hits as Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” and “Oops (I Did It Again) as well as Salt and Peppa’s, “Let’s Talk About Sex”. After leaving the stage, a ten minute standing ovation brought all the twelve members back to the stage for several memorable encore performances.

-Pat Miller

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5
1.Fearless-Taylor Swift
2.Womanizer-Britney Spears
3.Live Your Life- TI featuring Rhianna
4.So What-P!nk
5.Hot N Cold-Katy Perry

Upcoming CD Releases
October 20th
AC/DC-Black Ice (Wal-Mart Exclusive)
October 21st
Ludacris-Theatre of the Mind
Matisyahu- Shattered
Of Montreal-Skeletal Landing
October 28th
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals-Cardinology
Bloc Party-Intimacy
Coolio-Steel Hear
The Cure-Dream 4.1.3
Kaiser Chiefs-Off With Their Heads
Toby Keith-That Don’t Make Me A Bad Guy
John Legend-Evolver
P!nk-Funhouse
Snow Patrol-A Hundred Million Suns

Concerts this Weekend
Friday
Sugar Hill Gang-Zanzibar
School of Rock: Tribute to Van Halen-8X10
Elton John-John Paul Jones
Robin Williams- Smith Center
Saturday
The Misfits-JAXX
Lewis Black-Patriot Center
Robin Williams- Smith Center
Sunday
TI & T-Pain- Patriot Center
An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt-Warner Theatre
Method Man and Redman-SONAR

-Taylor Barnes

Politics on Campus

With the election only weeks away, GW's campus has become a center for politics. This week saw many different visitors and events, all of a political nature, focusing predominantly on the upcoming election.

On Monday, former campaign manager for Al Gore Donna Brazile, who is now a political analyst for CNN, delivered remarks to the GW College Democrats at the Jack Morton Auditorium. Her remarks focused mainly on the upcoming election.

On Tuesday, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Class Council hosted “How Do I Become a Campaign Manager,” featuring Beth Leonard, who was the Presidential State Director for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Leonard, who is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Political Management, gave advice and anecdotes to students interested in getting involved in campaigns as a career. Her advice included networking with average people, not letting ideology get in the way when choosing who to work for and getting a dog.

Wednesday was filled with political events, including the GW mock election, which ended in a landslide victory for Obama. Other activities included a game of tug-of-war between the CD’s and CR’s, political jousting and political mocktails. Later that evening, two debate watching parties were held in the School of Media and Public Affairs - the Program Board event with the CRs and CDs in the Jack Morton Auditorium and on the third floor, a debate party for SMPA students along with faculty commentary. CNN was there to cover the event.

The political happenings on campus continue next week, when the College Republicans welcome former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom at 8pm.

Special Report: GW Crime Alerts

A recent Crime Alert reported eight sexual assaults at GW.  Some of these incidents did not in fact occur on campus, but were reported to someone on campus that is considered to be a reporting entity by the Federal Government. These campus administrators are required to report cases such as these to UPD.

The cases that occurred on campus took place at International House on the Foggy Bottom campus and Hensley Hall on the Mount Vernon campus. The incident at I House was an acquaintance sexual assault that occurred between two non-GW affiliated individuals who were visiting friends at GW when the incident occurred. The case occurred on September 15th and has been closed and referred to Metro Police for investigation. The Hensley Hall case involved a sexual assault between two GW students who were acquaintances. The case occurred on September 26th and has been closed.

The Foggy Bottom Grocery Store located on the 2100 block of F Street was robbed at gunpoint this past Friday, October 10th at approximately 1 PM. Staff reported that the subject entered the store and produced a handgun and demanded money. He fled soon after. The subject is described as a black male, six feet tall with a slim build. He was wearing a bandana over his face during the robbery. If you have any information, please contact Detective Andy Way from the Second District Detective Office (that’s Metro Police) at 202-730-1903.

-Jenn Nuener

Law & Order: GWU

First up a community director’s administrative search of a room in New Hall yielded several "weapons" recently. Among the discoveries were two air guns, fake plastic rifle bullets, and a toy cap gun that apparently looked very realistic. All items were confiscated.

On Townhouse Row, a female GW student was EmERGed after her friend called UPD. The officers discovered the subject unresponsive but breathing when they arrived on scene. Both EmERG and Advanced Life Support arrived on scene to bring her to GWER. A student from Thurston was also EmERGed with ALS after a friend called to report that he was highly intoxicated and vomiting everywhere. He was also transported to GWER.

A routine patrol of a hall in Potomac nearly resulted in a drug bust. The community director was notified of a smell of marijuana detected while an officer was on patrol. An administrative search yielded no residents currently in the room in question, but it was evident that someone had been smoking marijuana in the room.

Ivory Tower was the scene of an actual drug bust after UPD responded to a report of marijuana being smoked in a car in the garage. Upon arriving on scene officers encountered two male students and one female student smoking in a vehicle; the students readily admitted to smoking. Marijuana and other paraphernalia in the vehicle were confiscated.

-Jenn Nuener

Islamo-Fascism Week Returns

This week, the George Washington University chapter of the Young America's Foundation joins several student organizations from college campuses across the country to participate in Islamo-Facism Awareness week.

According to the event press release from Travis Korson, GW YAF's Director of Press, the goal of the week is to "spread awarness and tolerance and education students and professors about the difference between the vast majority of Muslims who practice moderate and peaceful Islam and those who have radicalized and perverted their religious texts and used them to justify political violence."

Last year, the event was hugely controversial on campus, after fliers appeared with the slogan, "Hate Muslims? So Do We!" citing YAF as the group responsible.  The posters were hung around campus by student unaffiliated the with organization to protest the event.  The stunt made headlines in media organizations nationwide.  YAF responded with two full page ads in the Hatchet entitled, "A Forgery and a Hate Crime," and "Stop Profiling Conservative Students."

This week began with a screening of Islam v. the Islamists, a film about the struggle of moderate Muslims in America.  Wednesday, representatives from the YAF chapter asked individuals to sign a petition denouncing radical activities including religious Hadith sections.  The event schedule concluded with a keynote address by Nonie Darwish last night in the Jack Morton Auditorium.

The speaker is a former lieutenant int he Egyptian Army, who founded the Feayeen, a group that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israelis during his term.  After she immigrated to the United States in 1979 and converted to Christianity, she became active against extremism and became an author.  Travis Korson, the Director of Press for YAF said, "We are excited to bring Darwish as she will offer a unique and firsthand perspective into the radical perversion of the holy Islamic documents.  She will also be highlighting the detrimental effects for the people who do adhere to this perversion of the books."

-Monika Wysocki

Bob Costas On the Kalb Report

Bob Costas was at the National Press Club on Monday as the guest on “The Kalb Report”. Costas is a familiar face to those who have watched the last five Summer Olympics and for baseball fans around the country. He is an award-winning sportscaster with 19 Emmys and eight “National Sportscaster of the Year”.

Much of the interview was spent on America’s past time and Costas’s favorite sport, baseball. Costas grew up in New York during an exciting time for baseball - when Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees.

Costas believes that although baseball has become more popular, the connection between the fans and the players has diminished. Line-ups change frequently and therefore it is difficult to become attached to a player. Pitching has dramatically changed over the years as well; pitchers used to throw complete games all the time, but now a coach is satisfied if he gets 6 or 7 innings out of his pitcher.

Another major change in baseball is the amount of money in the game. Costas always favors the rights of the players and does not mind that they earn millions of dollars a year.

The Olympics have also played a crucial role in Costas’s career. Costas was happy with NBC’s coverage of the Bejing games, but would have liked NBC to do more coverage on the social, economic, and political issues in China. While in China, Costas did not only focus on the sports events, but was able to cover various stories beyond the sports world.

-Roxanne Martin

DC Sports Update

The Washington Wizards are 1-2 after 3 preseason games. The wizards lost to Dallas and Detroit but were able to pick up a win in Memphis. The regular seasons begins on October 29^th when the wizards will host the New Jersey Nets at the Verizon Center.

The Washington Capitals are 1-1 after the regular season began last Friday. The Caps fell in the season opener to Atlanta by a score of 7-4. But, redemption was quick for the Caps. Saturday, the Capitals had their home opener against Chicago and won with a final score of 4-2. New goaltender Jose Theodore looked shaky for the second night in a row as he allowed two questionable scores in the first period, one within the first 26 seconds of the game. However, those would be the only goals by Chicago for the night. The caps scored 4 unanswered goals to get their first win of the season. The capitals will play the Vancouver Canucks tonight at home, starting at 7 pm.

And last, despite being heavily favored for the win, the Redskins lost at home to the St. Louis Rams yesterday. The final score was 19-17. Rams kicker Josh Brown scored a 49 yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to win the game. It was the first win of the year for St. Louis. The Redskins fall to 4-2.

-Joe Lewis

Starbucks Water Woes

Is your Venti Mocha killing people in Africa?  Well, not exactly, but The Sun reports that the water wasted daily by the coffee giant would suffice the needs of two-million African people every day.

The U.K. based newspaper revealed that the coffee franchise has a policy of keeping a water tap running non-stop at each of its 10,000 worldwide locations. That amounts to 23.4 million liters or 6,181,626 gallons of water wasted each day. The paper claims this is equal to the daily water requirements for the entire country of Namibia, or enough to fill an Olympic sized pool every 83 minutes.

Starbucks management claims that by running the taps constantly there is a reducing chance of germs breeding in the pipes. Many experts have dismissed the germ claims, calling them “nonsense.”

Environmental groups have also chimed in by highlighting the scarcity of water, and the droughts in many parts of the world that has been the cause of an untold number of deaths.

And how about the Gelman Library Starbucks, 1957 E location, and those nearby 22nd and K location? At every one the tap to the “dipper well”, where spoons and utensils are washed, has a constantly running tap.

-Jesse Regis

Metro Stop of the Week: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan

Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan is a metro stop bursting with things perfect for college students to do.  The area is much more neighborhood-like, but still offers great restaurants and shops to explore.

Woodley Park is mostly residential, but its home to two of the biggest hotels in DC – the Omni Shoreham and the Sheraton-Washington.  If you’re planning to attend GW’s Inaugural Ball in January, it will be held at the Omni.  Also, Woodley Park boasts an eclectic selection of international restaurants – all in a one block period!

As for the zoo, despite the metro stop’s name, I wouldn’t recommend using this stop.  The trek is all uphill, so it’s a much easier walk from the Cleveland Park stop.

But where are most people who get off at this stop going?  Adams Morgan.  This neighborhood is an explosion of cultural diversity and eccentric nightlife that’s extremely popular with college students and young professionals.  From the metro, you’ll have a bit of a walk – but it’s definitely worth it.  The Diner is an Adams Morgan favorite – it’s an upscale diner that’s open 24 hours a day.  Catch live bluegrass on Wednesday nights at Madam’s Organ or swing by Habana Village to show off your salsa moves (or take a free lesson). On Saturdays, check out arts and crafts by local artists at Western Market.  Also, Adams Morgan is home to Fleet Feet, the specialty shoe store owned by Mayor Fenty’s family.  And Adams Morgan is  home to a variety of festivals – from Adams Morgan day, to my favorite DC arts festival, Crafty Bastards.  It’s definitely worth your while.

Have a great weekend!  Next stop: Cleveland Park.

-Mallory Thompson

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5
1.    Womanizer-Britney Spears
2.    Live Your Life- TI featuring Rhianna
3.    So What-P!nk
4.    Let it Rock-Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne
5.    Hot N Cold-Katy Perry

New CD Releases
Tuesday October 14th
Ashanti- The Vault
Boo and Boo Too-No Tiempo
Jo Dee Messina- Unmistakeable
Keane-Perfect Symmetry
Lucinda Williams-Little Honey

Concerts
Thursday
Of Montreal-930
Halloween Fearfest-Merriweather
Friday
Odd Girl Out- SONAR
Martin Sexton-Birchmere
Girl Talk-9:30
Saturday
Lupe Fiasco-Loyola
Girl Talk-Sonar
Shwazye-Santa Fe Café College Park
Ra Ra Riot- Black Cat
Sunday
Glactic-930 Club
Rise Against with Alkaline Trio and Thrice- Rames Head Live!
The Australian Pink Flyod Show-Warner Theatre

-Taylor Barnes

Movie Review: The Express

Yesterday was the advanced screening of the movie, The Express, starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown.  Full of trials and hardships, The Express is a true story based on Ernie Davis's (Rob Brown) experience playing for Syracuse University's football team under the leadership of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid).  Ernie is the first black football player to win the Heisman Award, but it was not an easy journey.  The movie shows all the obstacles Davis had to endure being a black athlete in a segregated society.

The Express had all the elements of a sports movie; an underdog team fighting to the top, an athlete with an abnormal amount of talent and a coach with a tough exterior, but is really a sweetheart.  The film does a good job of integrating the racial issues on the football field and in society as a whole.  The football scenes were full of excitement, but were careful to not be overdone.  And if you're not a sports fan - don't worry - you will still find this movie interesting due to its lovable characters and dramatic plot.

Although the film had action, comedy and romance, it seemed a little lengthy.  With the move running just over two hours, it would have been just as effective if it had been shorter.

Overall it was a good sports film and will have you engaged the entire time.  The Express comes to theaters this Friday, October 10th.

- Roxanne Martin

Law & Order: GWU

First up the 7 Eleven underneath Mitchell Hall reported a theft last week. The suspect was gone when officers arrived, but they found him soon after as a result of the description given. The subject had no affiliation with GW and no charges will be filed.

A female student was taken to GWER by EmERG from the lobby of Thurston after officers suspected that she was intoxicated. The student also became disorderly with EmERG and hospital staff upon her arrival at the hospital.  Another student, this one male, was taken from Thurston for severe intoxication. He was falling in and out of consciousness, and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Thurston was also the scene of a couple of thefts recently.  A male resident and 2 other residents signed 5 other students into Thurston, and then went to the male resident’s room. 1 of the invited students left the room soon after, reportedly with the wallet of the male resident. After the case was reported, a witness recognized the suspect and identified him. Another complainant, this one female, reported that her purse was stolen at this same event. A suspect has not yet been identified. These investigations are ongoing.

And now a special report on two recent cases of suspicious packages. The first occurred on September 16th in Old Main. A faculty member had left his office and returned to find that a suitcase had been placed in it. Police were notified, and they performed a sweep and interviewed individuals in the building. Another faculty member stated that she had allowed someone to place the suitcase in the office for safekeeping.
The other suspicious package report occurred on Friday September 26th. Another suitcase was left by in the Academic Center. The building was evacuated as a result of the officers’ concerns for the security of the package. Soon after, an individual came forward and indicated that she was a visitor to a GW student. She said that she had left her suitcase in the Academic Center, and that this could be the offending luggage. A description proved beyond a doubt that the suitcase was hers; it was returned to the individual, and the Academic Center was reopened.

- Jenn Neuner

GW Gets Institute of Solar Energy

Last Friday, George Washington University announced the establishment of an institute for the analysis of solar energy within the College of Arts and Sciences.

According to the GW News Center, the Institute will "employ a multi-disciplinary approach to conducting research on the economic, technical and public policy issues associated with developing and deploying solar power." International solar expert Ken Zweibel will lead the institute, along with experts from university departments and schools, in developing objective analysis for policy makers on how solar energy can help address the challenges of global energy supply and climate change.

During his renowned career, Zweibel has developed solar technology for low-cost electricity at the U.S. Department of Energy's national renewable energy lab in Colorado. He also co-founded a solar power manufacturing company.

Solar energy is a big business, especially since congress, in its recently passed bailout package, included renewable energy tax credits, which are seen by many economists as a critical step towards bringing the U.S. closer to becoming a progressive leader in the rewnewable energy industry.

Zweibel, however, has become more intrested in "informing people of the possibilities and solutions to global energy and environmental problems," according to the press release.

In an open letter to the faculty of GW, Zweibel announced that the institute has $400,000 of funding available for scholarly activities at GW. The Institute itself is funded by a combination of private, corporate and foundation funds.

-Monika Wysocki

DC Sports Round Up

The Washington Wizards will have their first preseason game in Dallas tomorrow night.  The game will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Net at 8:30pm, eastern time.

In hockey, the Washington Capitols lost their final preseason game last night at home against Boston in the Verizon Center. The game was tied at 4 all when regulation play ended. A scoreless overtime period led to a shootout where goals by Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins secured the victory for Boston. The Capitols ended the preseason with a final record of 5-1-1, their best performance since 1999. The official NHL season began overseas this past weekend. The New York Rangers played a two game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague. The Caps will have their first regular season game on Friday in Atlanta.

The Redskins had a dominant performance on Sunday as they beat Philidelphia, 23-17. Runningback Clinton Portis rushed for 145 yards and scored the go ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter. He later converted a crucial 4th down, with 2:39 left in the game. Philidelphia had used all of their timeouts and the Redskins were able to run out the clock from there. The Skins are now 4-1.

-Joe Lewis

Environmental Sustainability Hits Campus

Earlier today, the George Washington University held a symposium on urban sustainability and how Washington D.C. can lead the way.

The symposium - which ran from 8am until 2pm in Jack Morton Auditorium - featured prominent D.C. government officials and councilmembers, leaders of business and non-profit organizations and members of the GW community.

The goal of the symposium was to facilitate discussion in regards to the best practices the city could adopt to help become more energy-efficient. The discussion included several city and university leaders, including George Hawkins, Director of the D.C. Department of Environment, D.C. Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso and GW President Steven Knapp. They discussed a wide variety of topics, including green jobs, development and education, all in terms of how to make the city more sustainable.

The symposium was followed by a luncheon at the Marvin Center which featured opening remarks by Chairman of the D.C. Council, Vincent Gray, and a discussion moderated by Steve Moore, the President and CEO of the Washington D.C. Economic Partnership.

The symposium follows news that the Sierra Club Magazine had named GW one of the five colleges that have failed to sufficiently invest in fighting the climate crisis. The other schools to make the list were the College of William and Mary, Howard University, Texas Tech University and Valdosta State University.

-Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Dupont

To start off this feature, we’ll start with a stop close to home, Dupont Circle. The neighborhood is known for its boutiques, bookstores, galleries, embassies, nightlife, activist groups and nonprofit organizations. The circle itself attracts many street performers no matter what hour of the day or night. Whether you choose the north exit or the south exit, there’s definitely a lot to see.

On the North side, there are countless artsy shops and cafes to visit. A must-go is Krammerbooks and Afterwords – from their desserts and brunches, to their late night hours on the weekends, Kramers is a perfect hangout for college students. While it may be a little pricy, you won’t be disappointed. The café is also a bookstore and has a wide selection, with a terrific travel section.

Also, the North side of Dupont boasts the Phillips Collection, an art museum that’s noted for its impressionist and post impressionist works – especially Renior’s Luncheon of the Boating Party and works by Van Gogh, Monet and Degas. Admission is $8 on Saturdays and Sundays, and free Tuesday through Fridays. On Sundays before 1, it’s worth a trip to the Dupont market. Stands with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and flowers fill the streets.

For the south side, Cosi is fun. It takes GWorld and this location offers Cosi’s famous s’mores – a great way to spend a fall evening! The south side also offers great bars – from Buffalo Billiards, a sports bar, to the Front Page, for great happy hour specials, and the exclusive Eighteenth Street Lounge, known for its DJs and its association with the duo, Thievery Corporation.

Enjoy the weekend – Next stop is Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan!

- Mallory Thompson

Biden vs. Palin

Thunderous applause rang out across the Marvin Center Thursday night at Vice Presidential candidates Joeseph Biden and Sarah Palin took to the stage at Washington University for the only Vice Presidential debate this election.

Hosted by the GW Program Board, College Republicans and College Democrats alike gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center to watch the debate together.

Going into the debate, both organizations had high hopes for their candidates. Alicia Froio, Freshman Representative for the College Democrats, said she thought Biden would do "a heck of a lot better" than Palin. On the other side, Conor Rogers, Freshmen Representative for the College Republicans, asserted that Palin "will do very well," and that when se gets to speak freely, the polls bounce for McCain.

Notably, the ballroom was divided up into two sections - the College Democrats on the left side and the College Republicans on the right, with a large aisle separating the two. As the debate progressed, it became very clear as to why the two groups were seated in separate sections.

Several times throughout the night, an accusation made by one of the two candidates would send one of the groups into bouts of applause in favor of their candidate. At one point, when Biden accused current Vice President Dick Cheney of being "very dangerous," the College Democrats cheered fro several moments. Palin's assertion that she does not support gay marriage was welcomed with equally loud applause from the College Republicans.

Next Tuesday, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will meet for their second of three pre-election debates in Nashville, Tennessee.

-Alex Laska

Law & Order: GWU

First up, a report of unlawfully possessed alcohol in JBKO. UPD came to the room based on suspicion of underage drinking. Upon entering the room alcohol was seen in plain view. Of the 10 students present all were subjected to sobriety tests, resulting in one student being sent to GWER. This same student was charged with disorderly conduct after being verbally abusive to officers and refusing to listen to commands. He was placed in protective custody and transported to GWER, where he became disorderly and disruptive to staff as well. He was then taken to MPD’s 2nd District for processing.

One of the 4-RIDE van drivers reported that a student passenger was intoxicated. He dropped the student off in front of Thurston and proceeded to watch him throw up in a trashcan. UPD arrived and performed a sobriety test, but the student was found to be in no immediate danger. He was released on scene.

A liquor law violation was called in from Foggy Bottom Grocery, concerning a partially nude male. UPD encountered the subject at the Smith Center, wearing shorts and shoes but no shirt. He was identified as a GW student. When questioned, he denied that he had been drinking, and stated that he was having a reaction to a medication. But a failed sobriety test sent him to GWER via EMeRG.

Our first story occurring in Thurston is a report of disorderly conduct after a student was unable to swipe her GWorld. She had difficulty walking, and thus no sobriety test was performed. The student did however become disorderly on transport to GWER, being transported by EMeRG.

Also in Thurston, a case of simple assault was reported by a male GW student. He claimed that 2 other residents of Thurston came to his room after an argument, and a shoving match ensued. The complainant stated that he was punched in the chest. He is not filing criminal charges, and the case has been handed over to SJS.

And our last case for tonight is a sex act caught in progress. 2 GW students were found to be engaging in a consensual sexual act at Kogan Plaza. Both were subjected to sobriety tests, and thereafter sent on their way.

- Jenn Neuner

Metro Vote Goes to the Floor

A transportation package is expected to pass the U.S. Senate today, a move that could bring as much as $1.5 billion dollars to the D.C. Metro system. This money is dedicated funding and a part of a plan to improve the safety and efficiency of both the D.C. Metro and the country's aging transportation system.

The bill has become a politically sensitive issue in recent weeks following the deaths of 25 and injury of 130 others in a Los Angeles train accident.

If the bill passes through the senate, D.C. Maryland, and Virginia will have 10 years to produce $1.5 billion in matching funds.

According to the Washington Post, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine said that his state has the resources to match the funds, telling the news outlet that "The top priority is spend our state's transportation dollars on anything where there's a federal match." Kaine continued to say that "So as soon as this thing passes, the Metro funding jumps to the top priority."

No word yet on whether D.C. or Maryland has a plan in place to match the funding.

Even if the bill passes and the funds matched, the funding may not be enough. According to the Post the Metro General Manager John Catoe announced that Metro needs $11.3 billion dollars between the years 2010 and 2020 to provide increased service, while maintaining safety.

-Jesse Regis

The O'Reilly Factor Meets The Kalb Report

In front of a live audience, Bill O'Reilly joined Marvin Kalb for the first Kalb Report of the school year. The event was held at the National Press Club. The interview began lightheartedly - Kalb explained how he was O'Reilly's professor at Harvard University and is frequently asked why he didn't flunk him. Kalb was sure to remind O'Reilly that he was now on his show. The whole interview was full of joking around with Kalb and O'Reilly frequently poking fun at each other.

The first hour was spent dicussing O'Reilly's life and experiences in broadcast journalism. When asked what it means to be a good journalist, O'Reilly stated that he or she must be honest and diligent. They must put effort into finding out the truth about a situation. While he is a controversial figure, he told the audience that he has never had to retract a story nor has he ever lost a lawsuit. O'Reilly said that a good journalist has to be "smart enough to know when someone is playing you."

On networks, O'Reilly went into attack mode. He believes that MSNBC decided to go left because they wanted fo follow in FOX's footsteps and make money. O'Reilly and Kalb argued over CBS and whether it should be considered liberal as well. O'Reilly was a former employee of ABC and CBS, but only made it big when he joined the FOX news team.

After the hour-long taped program ended, O'Reilly and Kalb contined their discussion for the audience, mostly on current issues. Whe asked about abortion, O'Reilly admitted that it is a private decision, but does believe the "potential person" should have rights. He explained that he doesn't really care about gay marraige, but he does believe gay couples should be allowed to adopt. On the presidential debate, O'Reilly thought that on most issues it was fairly even, but that McCain had won. He didn't offer much advice on Sarah Palin because he hasn't interviewed her, but he hopes that she will join him on "The O'Reilly Factor" soon.

- Roxanne Martin

Sexual Health in the District

On Wednesday of last week, shortly after the Trojan Evolve Tour transformed Kogan Plaza into a safe sex education haven, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty announced that an advertising campaign to encourage HIV/AIDS testing and prevention will be launched in the District.

The campaign is in response to a report on the AIDS epidemic by the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, which found that the city is not doing enough to increase public awareness of the epidemic. The problem is particularly important among youth, and age group for which the epidemic is growing at an alarming rate. According to the District of Columbia's Department of Health, roughly 1 out of every 100 young people ages 13 to 24 in the District is HIV infected or has full-blown AIDS. Almost 12,500 people in the District were known to have HIV or AIDS in 2006, the most recent year of statistics available.

Sexually transmitted diseases are one of the targets of the Trojan Evolve Tour, which featured a 40 foot long interactive bus, a pledge sheet students could sign to promise they would use a condom everytime they have sex, banana races, an Imax-style rollercoaster ride and, of course, free giveaways. The tour, billed as a grassroots campaign to raise awareness about the poor state of sexual health in America, will continue through November, according to the Trojan Condoms website.

-Monica Wysocki

DC Sports Round Up

In baseball, the Nationals finished their season on Sunday with an 8-3 loss at Philidelphia.  The Nats had a final record of 59 and 102, winning only one of their last ten games.  The baseball post season commences thsi week with the National and American Leagues Divisional series.

In basketball, the Washington Wizards began their training camp on Saturday at Virginia Commonweatlh University.  Camp ends on October 3rd and the Wizards will have their first preseaon game at Dallas on October 7th.

In hockey, the Washington Capitols are undefeated after three preseason games.  ESPN, the Magazine, recently named the Caps as the dark horse team to win the Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup.  Last season marked the Caps' first playoff appearance since 2003.  The Capitals' only Stanley Cup appearance was in the 1998 when they were swept in four games by Detroit.

In football, the Redskins upset upset the Cowboys at Dallas in a 26-24 victory.  This was only the second win for the Redskins in Dallas in 13 years.  Jason Campbell completed 20 of 31 passes for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The rival teams will meet again in Washington on November 16th.  The Redskins' record improves to 3-1.

- Joe Lewis

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5

1. Love Lockdown - Kayne West

2. So What! - P!nk

3. Whatever You Like - TI

4. Love Story - Taylor Swift

5. Hot N’Cold - Katy Perry

CD Releases

September 29^th

Travis Ode to J.Smith

September 30^th

Flecktones - Jingle All the way

Ben Folds - Way to Normal

Jack’s Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

Tom Morello - The Fabled City

Pete Seeger - At 89

T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz

James Taylor - Covers

TI - Paper Trail

- Taylor Barnes

Bob Barr Interview Today

Tune in to www.gwradio.com or campus cable channel 22 at 1:15!