Le Pain Quotidien (Restaurant Review)

An authentic French patisserie in the heart of Dupont Circle? This might sound too good to be true, but it's exactly what Le Pain Quotidien brings to the table. With a wide variety of organic choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner Le Pain Quotidien is about as authentic as they come. The friendly wait staff provides good advice and suggestions for any meal of the day.


For those of you who are probably more familiar with Founding Farmers when it comes to organic options, I would absolutely recommend making the short fifteen minute walk to Dupont Circle for Le Pain Quotidien. Although there is a slightly narrower choice of selection, the prices are more reasonable.

Allen Blasts Dems and GOP for Broken Government

George Allen speaking at the CRs kickoff event

Former Governor of Virginia and U.S. Senator George Allen spoke to approximately forty students at the GW College Republicans kickoff. 

“Is America on the track to greatness? No,” Allen told students at the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center. “It’s time for an American comeback.”

Allen, a Republican seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2012, emphasized the need for America to reinvigorate its international business prospects. 

“No more time for boon doggling, no more time for delay. Let’s send a message to the world that America is open for business again,” he said.

 Allen hopes to achieve this by reducing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent, less than the 35 percent corporate profits are taxed today.

“The government does not create jobs. Jobs are created by the private sector,” Allen said to applause.

Allen praised states for being able to achieve objectives that the federal government cannot perform efficiently. 

“States are the laboratories of democracy,” he said. 

If elected, Allen promises to introduce a bill withholding congressional paychecks if appropriation bills and requests are not submitted on time.

Addressing the discontent of the American people, Allen says the people want solutions. 

“Folks are disgusted by Washington,” Allen said. 

In addition to reforming America’s corporate tax code, Allen says he hopes to bring about energy reform and rein in government spending. 

“I’ll be like a dog on a bone for energy [reform].”

Early this week, leaders in the United States Senate came to an agreement to fund the government for six weeks until November 18. This is the third short-term continuing resolution regarding government spending to come before Congress this year. Allen said the short-term solutions are worse now than they were several years ago when he served as a United States senator. Calling these short-term continuing resolutions a dilatory process, Allen blasted both Republicans and Democrats for the state of government. 

“These [resolutions] are symptomatic of a broken government,” Allen said.

Blake Gober, an attendee, recalled Allen’s 2006 loss to now Senator Jim Webb and reflects on it as a humbling experience for Allen. 

“[Allen] has grown and learned from that experience," Gober said. "I believe that he is a much stronger candidate. His policy on withholding paychecks is spot-on and exactly what we need done in Washington.”

J Street Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Dining Changes

GW Dining Services officially celebrated J-Street's over-the-summer renovations with a ribbon-cutting celebration Tuesday night, complete with GW cheer team pep and an appearance by school mascot George the Colonial. President Steven Knapp cut the ceremonial purple ribbon while students snacked on samples from various J Street venues.

Over the summer, Sodexo, who is contracted out by the University to provide on-campus food, made several changes to the J Street facility, including removing the monument and staircase to create more open space and closing down fast-food restaurants Wendy's and Chick-fil-A. New venues include The Metro Diner and Thyme, serving homestyle, full-course lunches and dinners. Sodexo also renamed the returning venues.

GW administrators view the changes as an upgrade, answering students' need for healthier dining options.

"The challenge that we had before us was to bring fresh, nutritious food into J -Street," Nancy Haaga, Managing Director of Campus Support Services, explained.

Sodexo, though, knows there is still work to be done.

"We are still working, still changing, and evolving everyday," Katy Kash, the Marketing Director for GW Campus Dining, said.

One of the early issues for J-Street is the struggle for Thyme to receive business. Administrators, students and Sodexo all seem to notice that students prefer made-to-order options more than the sit-down meals Thyme offers. In the next few weeks, administrators and Sodexo plan to unveil some changes to Thyme, including adding made-to-order paninis and quesadillas to the menu.

Student Dining Board Chairman Ben Leighton is especially pleased with the new Metro Diner, which has a grill for made-to-order items.

"One of the things I've been pushing for is a grill," Leighton said. "The grill has been serving far more people than they've been expecting to everyday."

Now, one of Leighton's top priorities is to make J Street a central meeting place for special events like El Clasico, the highly popular soccer match between major Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. Leighton says J Street can turn into a viewing party for such events in the future.

Caroline Kennedy Talks Jackie

A quiet rumble began to fill Lisner Auditorium on Monday night as people began to arrive almost an hour in advance to hear the main event, "A Conversation with Caroline Kennedy," presented by the Politics and Prose bookstore in conjunction with GW. Mrs. Kennedy visited GW, her mother's alma mater, to discuss the newly released, nearly eight-and-a-half hour recordings of her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy, and the accompanying book for which she wrote a foreword.

Michael Beschloss, a historian who specializes in presidential history, started the discussion and talked about Jacqueline's uninhibited interview with Arthur Schlesinger and her interest in historic preservation. Schlesinger, a historian and special assistant to President Kennedy, decided after his assassination that it was important to capture history on tape.

Schlesinger began the extensive process of interviewing nearly a thousand people who knew Mr. Kennedy in an attempt to create an oral history of the Kennedy administration. The centerpiece of this project was of course, Jacqueline Kennedy herself. Caroline kept the interviews sealed for decades until she decided they were fit to be released. This year was right time, she decided, as it is the 50th anniversary of her father's inauguration.

Caroline noted that her father's presidency is quickly "becoming a part of history rather than living memory" but that his ideals and words remain "as vital as ever." Returning to her mother, Caroline said that once Jacqueline finished the seven interviews, she "sealed the audio tapes in the Kennedy library and put the transcripts in a safety deposit vault in New York." Apart from Caroline and her brother John, few people knew of the tapes existence.

Caroline said she worried that listening to her mother's interviews would be upsetting. When she did listen to the tapes, she was surprised by "how much they revealed that wasn't on the page." She could tell when her mother was getting tired, annoyed, or when she decided not to talk about something.

In response to some of the criticisms that the tapes drew, Caroline stated that her mother broke the mold by giving such a candid interview. 


Caroline's most difficult decision was whether to edit the interviews. She claimed some issues haven't withstood the test of time, some comments might have been embarrassing to her mother and she would no longer support some of her views. Caroline came to the conclusion that she didn't have the right to alter the historical record.

Caroline stayed afterwards to sign copies of the book, Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy.

Google Donates to GOP, Enters Bipartisan Phase

Google, the perennial left-leaning search engine, has begun to recruit Republican operatives and donating funds to various GOP groups, reported the Huffington Post. 

The traditionally liberal-minded corporation is entering a bipartisan phase with the aim of supporting the causes of both the Republican and Democratic parties. 


Google's executives donated money to the D.C.-based Republican Attorneys General Association. The conglomerate also helped co-sponsor last Thursday's GOP presidential debate with Fox News. 

Among other GOP-linked organizations, Google also pledged monetary support to the Heritage Foundation, web development firm Crossroad Strategies and the Republican State Leadership Committee. Additionally, Google has hired 18 lobbying firms in the last nine months, a figure that includes consultants who are not mandated to register as lobbyists.

Google leadership also provided support to conservative think thanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, both based in the nation's capital.

Naturally, the megacorporation's fiscal support of GOP organizations has found approval among Republican members of Congress. 

"Bipartisanship is a positive thing," said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, head of the Senate's Republican fundraising committee.  "I understand why people feel like they need to have people they can talk to on both sides." 

Google's fiscal support of the GOP is coming at a time when the company's executives are facing a major antitrust lawsuit on Capitol Hill. Eric Schmidt, Google's former chief executive, stood before the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee last Wednesday. 

Schmidt defended Google against allegations that the company is violating American antitrust legislation, which prohibits the formation of monopolies. The investigation into Google's breach of antitrust laws is ongoing.

Ever since Microsoft began funneling donations to both major parties, Google has sought to gain political interest in the same manner. As of mid-2011, Google and Microsoft are at a dead tie in terms of political donations, both corporations citing $3.5-million in lobbying expenditures.

Some GW students believe the megacorporation's donations to the GOP reflect a strategic move with regards to the policy of Net neutrality. Net neutrality, also known as Internet neutrality, is a principle that calls for all Internet content to be treated equally. 

Net neutrality proponents also advocate for no restriction by Internet Service Providers or the government on what type of sites consumers view, what kind of content they see or what modes of communication they employ.


"It seems to me that [Google] is just doing this because the GOP is against Net neutrality," noted freshman Eric Breese. "This kind of stance is better for Google."


Currently, Google handles nine out of ten global searches. 

President Obama to Address Nation's Students on Wednesday

President Obama will deliver his annual back-to-school address this Wednesday at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School.  The speech will allow the president the opportunity to speak to students not just in the District, but across the nation as well.  This is the third year that the president will make a speech addressing the nation's students.

In a press release, Press Secretary Jay Carney said that in past speeches, the president encouraged students to study hard and take responsibility for their education, and urged them to set goals and be the authors of their own destinies.

Critics of the president's speech took issue with his addresses to students in the past.  In 2009, some parents threatened to remove their children from class during the speech, while others saw it as nothing more than political rhetoric.

This year, Banneker made Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools.  Ivory Sherman, a 2008 graduate of Banneker, said she is glad to see the President reaching out to public schools.


"Many have said that Obama delivering his back-to-school speech is his way of pushing his political agenda, but I disagree," Sherman said.  "President Obama should be applauded because he is reaching out to future generations, which should be done more often."

One teacher who spoke on conditions of anonymity said that lots of students are anticipating the speech.


"I'd say we're excited to have the president visit, but I think he gets more out of this- an urban public school backdrop- than we get out of it," the teacher commented.  "I think kids will remember he was here and that they saw him, but I doubt he'll encourage kids to stay in school here more than they already do anyway."

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Hits Campus

As President Mahmoud Abbas bid for Palestinian membership status at the United Nations last week, GW hosted two events to promote on-campus dialogue about the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

Last Tuesday night, OneVoice, an organization with headquarters in New York, advocating for a two-state solution to the conflict, made a presentation at the Elliot School of International Affairs. The group aims to have two parallel movements led by young adults ages 18-35. One group is comprised of Israelis, and one of Palestinians, with different campaigns focused to help each side identify with OneVoice and come together around the idea of finding a peaceful solution.

The presentation consisted of two of the youth leaders from each side. Speakers Eyal Shapira, 25, and Obada Shtaya, 20, spent the evening telling the audience about their experiences living through the conflict and why it should be resolved with a two state-solution. Shapira is a youth leader in the Israeli OneVoice group, while Shtaya is a youth leader in the Palestinian OneVoice group.

Shapira told the audience about growing up in Jerusalem during the second intifada, a time of uprising from Palestinians and assassinations of leaders from both sides of the conflict. Shapira then talked about his experiences serving as a soldier in the Israeli Army where he came face-to-face with Palestinians while serving as a combat soldier in the West Bank region. That experience led Shapira to come to an important conclusion.

"Both Israelis and Palestinians are victims of the situation and conflict. We should take the situation into our own hands," Shapira said.

For Shapira, this meant that he became involved with OneVoice while in college as the coordinator of the OneVoice at Hebrew University in Jersualem where he spoke to Israeli college students about how they viewed the conflict and their ideas to resolve it.

Shtaya also experienced the second intifada first hand when his father was put in prison during this stage of the conflict. Shtaya became involved with OneVoice when he went to one of the organization's Palestinian Town meetings.

Shapira and Shtaya both agree that neither of the bills proposed by the United States Congress are good for either side. One plan would annex the West Bank to Israel, and the other would cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority.

"The U.S. leaders annexing the West Bank will move the area to a different stage and a much worse situation," Shtaya said.

Instead, Shapira, Shtaya and the entire OneVoice organization hope that the Palestinian bid at the UN will be an opportunity for both sides to go back to the negotiating table.

Many student organizations sponsored the event. J Street U@GW, the International Affairs Society, The Institute for Middle East Studies, Amnesty International, GW Acting Politically for Israel, the GW Hillel, GW Roosevelt Institution, the Student Alliance for Israel and GW Interfaith Action all helped bring OneVoice to campus.

J Street U@GW President Rory Silver said the event was successful at clarifying for students that the majority of people on both sides of the conflict are for peace and prosperity.

"We felt that it was important for students to understand that being Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian are not mutually-exclusive," Silver explained.

"One of the members of the audience stated that he thought the event would be a debate. This is unfortunately the way that most students view the conflict, particularly in a time of heightened rhetoric surrounding the upcoming UN Vote. The speakers helped dispel these notions by proving that because the fates of Israelis and Palestinians are so intertwined, it's actually 'pro-Israel' to be 'pro-Palestinian,' and vice versa," he added.

Meanwhile, on Thursday GW students were again able to discuss the conflict with an event that took place at University Yard called "Talk Israel." Taking place under a big white tent, the event brought in different speakers to talk about the different aspects of the conflict, including: religion, the histories of both sides, the current day-to day situation, the effect of the Arab Spring, the debate over Palestinian statehood and the United States government's stance on the conflict.

Speakers ranged from current GW professors to former Jerusalem Post Editor-In-Chief David Horovitz.

Former Assistant Secretary of State Michael Singh spoke about U.S. foreign policy in the region and how it would be affected by the Palestinian bid at the U.N.

Student organizations sponsoring "Talk Israel" included the Students Alliance for Israel, GW students Acting Politically for Israel, Hillel, and the fraternities ZBT, AEPI and AEPHI.

"The goals [of the event] were to bring to campus an opportunity for civil and respectful dialogue and education about the current issues between Israel and the Palestinians to really listen and to bridge [the gap] between students," said Noam Archia, an Israeli fellow who works at Hillel.

Students Learn Self Protection at GW Safety Expo

As students and faculty lined up to create their own emergency preparedness kit, the GW Safety Expo held in University Yard this Wednesday had other ways of showing students how to keep themselves safe.  

As part of National Preparedness Month, the expo included presentations from local community partners, such as Target and Blue or new groups like Animal Rescue League, which showed how to care for animals in case of emergency. Campus organizations, such as the GW University Police Department, had demonstrations on how students can protect themselves in cases of assault.

Office of Emergency Management Director George Nuñez said that as many as 1,500 people came out to the expo and he hopes more people and groups attend in years to come.

"It shows that GW is an engaged community,"  Nuñez said.  "One goal we have is have as many as 1,000 people make their own preparedness kit."

The kit, which included band-aids, masks and latex gloves, serves as an on-hand tool set that will allow students to help bandage up themselves or friends in case of emergency.

UPD Lieutenant David Heffer noted that self-defense can be useful, but it is also essential to have a certain knowledge of one's surroundings when going out.

"The basis is still awareness," Heffer said, "but if you're going out, do some research on the area where you're going beforehand."

Members of the Office of Health and Safety stressed the importance of random searches of student dorms to make sure they do not have materials they would not be allowed to have on campus.

"It really helps students know what they should avoid bringing, but also what items they have to avoid bringing home for the holidays," said Health and Safety Inspector Chad O'Connor.

Although Nuñez stated that the Office of Emergency Management is busy year round, including the summer, he stated that the website is at its busiest during the winter.

"Lots of students want to know whether classes are cancelled or if it's going to snow," Nuñez said.

An Evening with Toni Morrison

"Please welcome a prolific writer, a vibrant intellectual, and a wonderful person, Professor Toni Morrison." As the audience stood up and applauded after Dr. Reed's introduction, the guest speaker, dressed in black and gray with a tan hat adorning her silver dread locs, was slowly escorted to the plush purple chair in the center of the stage. Wearing a big grin on her face and dazzling appreciation in her eyes, Professor Morrison took her seat and began a conversation about her career, writing and racism.

Toni Morrison spent an evening with a packed Lisner Auditorium Wednesday. An assortment of GW departments and organizations sponsored the event, including the office of the Provost, the Gelman Research Center and MSSC. Many of the attendees were GW students.

"She pushes us to think about the jagged edges of our experiences," said Reed. "She is a master teacher."

Taking her audience back through time, Morrison's desire to be among black intellectuals brought her to Howard University in Washington, DC in 1949. For her, the most exciting place as a college student was in the theater because they "read plays to understand the scenes, characters, and relationships." Morrison admitted she was not any good with acting, but she still reads plays for pleasure.

She then fastforwarded to the time she was a professor at Howard University. It was at this time she wrote the first version of "The Bluest Eye," around eight to nine pages about a girl who prayed for blue eyes. Morrison revealed that the subject of the story was a girl she was very close to when she was younger who she quarreled with about whether or not there was a God. The girl proclaimed there was not a God because she had prayed for blue eyes for two years and had yet to receive them. Morrison remebered thinking, "Suppose she had gotten them, how grotesque they would be," causing the audience to burst into laughter.

"I'm very happy when I'm writing," said Morrison, "spiritually, intellectually, language does that for me."

For her novel "A Mercy," Morrison had to "go back in time before racism was established and institutionalized" to develop her idea, which she found in the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th Century. She then read the opening and the ending of the book. Even though the audience was already quiet, a hush came over the auditorium as she started to read. With her laid back yet still vibrant voice, the story came alive as she painted an image with her words.

After ten minutes of storytelling, Morrison announced the completion of her latest work, entitled "Home." She read directly from the manuscript, giving the audience a sneek peak of her latest unpublished work.

Responding to a question about racial barriers in American politics and the election of Barack Obama, Morrison said, "Racism pays, it's useful, and it works," and commented that having a black president does not change that.

A GW senior asked Morrison her thoughts on the current banned book list for public schools.

"Everything worth reading is banned by somebody in these schools," she replied, jokingly adding that a Texas Correctional Institue that banned "Beloved" because it "might start a prison riot." 

"I love listening to her talk," said junior English major Sarah Perillo. "It's so inviting."

Some students had the opportunity to have dinner with Professor Morrison back stage at Lisner Auditorium.

"She's a really nice lady and very easy to talk to," said junior Africana Studies major Shelbie Atkins.

Other students shared a few words with Professor Morrison at the F Street House before the event.

"I asked her what her inspiration was for Beloved," said junior Public Health major Janel Coleman, "and she talked about women's rights. Basically during the 80s women tried to reclaim their bodies by not having kids, so in Beloved the slave woman reclaimed her body by having kids and killing them."

The Toni Morrison Society and GW dedicated a bench outside Lisner Auditorium in honor of Ms. Morrison's struggles and the 1947 integration of the venue.

Gibbs Recounts Hard Times in White House, Emphasizes Youth Vote in 2012

Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Photo: James Reed

Robert Gibbs, former White House Press Secretary and outside adviser to President Obama’s reelection campaign, energized a room full of College Democrats for the upcoming 2012 elections Tuesday evening. Gibbs briefly reminisced on his tenure as press secretary, during which he held more than 250 press briefings, before talking about the state of the economy.

“Our fiscal house is a mess... This is not your normal recession,” Gibbs told students at Dorothy Betts Theatre. Gibbs pointed to the falling strength of the dollar, noting that the income average in 2011 is about the same as 1996. “Your parents are paying your 2010-2011 GW tuition on a 1996 income,” said Gibbs.

Shiah Shahmohammadi, the GW College Democrats Communications Director, decided to host Gibbs as a speaker in order to rally their members toward the reelection of President Obama.

“Mr. Gibbs is an important figure in politics today. Not only was he the spokesperson for the nation's highest office for two years, but he is also an integral part of the reelection campaign of Barack Obama,” Shahmohammadi said. “The GW College Democrats chose Mr. Gibbs to be our kick-off speaker because he has the ability to excite our membership and encourage them to get involved with our organization as well as the 2012 campaign.”

During his speech, Gibbs pointed to the events of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 as a challenge for himself and the press, calling it “three of the most hardest months in the White House.” During the spill, Gibbs said he learned much about the oil industry and claimed to know more that than anyone who works for such a company.

Looking to 2012, Gibbs asked students a series of questions pertaining to their voting and social habits.

“This election is as much important as the last election,” Gibbs said emphatically. Gibbs, devoted some time to voting trends over the last decade, and particularly noted the shortfall in youth voting in 2010. In 2008, the youth votes comprised eighteen percent of the electorate, while in 2010 it was only eleven percent.

During the question and answer period, Gibbs noted a briefing featuring both President Obama and former President Clinton regarding the tax deal. Gibbs said his first thought when he first saw the two presidents walking past his office was “Holy Christ.” The presidents wanted access to the briefing room on a Friday evening.

“It was really cool getting the insight of someone who not only was a top White House insider for two years but the President’s main gatekeeper to the press,” said sophomore College Democrat member Scott Challeen. “My favorite part about hearing from former White House insiders like that is not so much the descriptions and specifics of their jobs, but the funny personal stories from the job.”

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Takes Effect

The United States military repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy Tuesday morning, allowing openly gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals to serve in the armed forces and marking a noticeable shift in the recognition of gay rights in America.

The policy, which did allow gays to serve in the military so long as they kept their sexual orientations hidden, began under the Clinton administration and had been the object of intense scrutiny for almost two decades. The policy's repeal was the culmination of several years worth of back-and-forth debate between the executive and legislative branches, the Department of Defense, and many members of the armed forces.

"It's always a significant moment in history when the government moves to enact policies that match the values held by the public," said freshman Rhett Gopaul. "In this case it's especially important given the ongoing debate concerning same-sex marriage; it's a step in the right direction and I hope it causes the tides to turn."

The repeal of DADT still remains unpopular among some members of Congress. However, the Department of Defense has made it clear that the law's repeal will not affect the actions of the Army, whether at home or on the battlefront. The Pentagon called for "business as usual" Tuesday, encouraging members of the armed forces to remember the values of respect and fairness.

Military services halted the processing of applications from openly gay recruits until the law's repeal took effect Tuesday morning, a strategy which will give prospective servicemen an equal opportunity to serve their country regardless of sexual orientation.

The law's repeal received hearty support on GW's campus from students on both sides of the political spectrum.

"Though I am a Republican, I support the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell,' because those who are fighting for our country should be able to practice the rights that they've sworn to protect," said freshman Edric Chung. "This isn't a matter of gay rights; it's a matter of freedom of speech."

Anti-DADT advocates held celebrations around the country in honor of the controversial law's repeal Tuesday. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a watchdog organization which aims to end discrimination of gay and lesbian military personnel, hosted a party a few blocks off campus in honor of "Repeal Day."

The law's repeal marks a noticeable shift with regards to the recognition of gay rights in the United States.

Comcast Launches New Program to Extend Internet Access

DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson (left) talking with Comcast EVP
David L. Cohen (middle) and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

The Comcast Corporation is launching a new initiative aimed at bringing inexpensive internet access to low-level income families.

The Internet Essentials program is simultaneously kicking off in 39 states and the District of Columbia. It's open to families who qualify for the National School Lunch Program, which provides free lunch to more than 29 million public and charter school students nationwide.

Speaking to WRGW over the phone, Executive Vice President David L. Cohen called the program a "continuation and refinement" of Comcast's existing goals.

"Working towards broadband adoption versus broadband deployment has always been a passion for Comcast," said Cohen, who was in town Tuesday for the DC-area launch of the program. "The Internet has the potential to narrow differences between people by providing access to education, news, entertainment, etc."

However, because of the so-called "digital divide" between the wealthy and the poor, Cohen said "the Internet exacerbates differences instead."

A recent report by Pew Research found that approximately one in four U.S. households are without a computer. In an attempt to change this, Internet Essentials will provide broadband access to qualified individuals for $9.95 a month, and Comcast is working with Dell and Acer to provide those households with computers for $150. The program will also work with local non-profit organizations to offer free computer and internet training for those who don't know how to use them.

Internet Essentials will affect more than 140,000 students in the DC-Metro area, in an attempt to aid the struggling DC Public School system. WRGW's own Michael Fische experienced DCPS firsthand.

"My school had a lot of kids that didn't have internet access," said Fische, a sophomore. "In middle school, I'd say 50% of the class didn't have it, and in high school maybe 60% were without internet access at home. I would be in classes with students who would have to stay after class or during lunch to get access to resources they couldn't get at home."

Comcast believes it can help by extending internet access to those who would otherwise never have it. "The Internet has shrunk the world, but only for the wealthy. For the poor, the world is just as big and intimidating as ever," said Cohen. "We are going to make a contribution to try and change that."

The program launched in DC on Tuesday.

Ugly Betty Star Leads Off Latino Heritage Celebration

The Latino Heritage Celebration at GW kicked off on a roll this week as actor, director and community activist Tony Plana captivated the crowd with his keynote address Monday evening at the Marvin Center.

You may know Plana from his more recent role as Betty’s father in the hit TV show "Ugly Betty." But his career has spanned decades, and his wide range of performances in the arts as well as in the community provided a platform which enables him to inspire fellow Hispanics.

Plana told stories to a fixated audience from his early life as an immigrant Cuban child in Miami in the 60’s. At other times, the crowd curled over with laughter as Plana mused them with highlights of his acting career.

Active community service and dedication, however, was the major emphasis of the speech. He urged the crowd to pay attention to the “tragedy of education” that is prevalent in schools today.

Plana adamantly professed “if there was an obstacle in your way, that you must take action to overcome that obstacle… not only for you, but for your community as well."

“Worlds will never change unless you change them yourself,” he explained to the audience.

He concluded his talk with a lively Q & A session with audience members who called on Plana to guide them through their own endeavors. Plana continued to emphasize the importance of education as a key step in breaking the mold that has been set for Hispanics in the local community, playing nicely into this year’s theme for the celebration “Saber es Poder” (Knowledge is Power).

The Multicultural Student Services Center hosted the event. Director Michael Tapscott emphasized that “Everyone is welcome at the MSSC."

The Latino Heritage Celebration, which takes place on GW’s campus Sept 19^th-Oct 15^th, promotes the immense value of self-awareness of Latinos while simultaneously empowering the Latino community. The weeklong celebration also seeks to educate the GW and surrounding D.C. community about the rich Latino history and culture and their impact on the United States. Other events this week include a Latin American film screening, Parade of Flags and Latin dance classes.

A full list of Latino Heritage Celebration activities can be found at the MSSC website.

4-RIDE Shuttle Reservation Now Available Online

GW students can now reserve 4-RIDE shuttles online through either their computers or smartphones. The new system will allow riders to book one trip at a time up to two hours in advance.


The shuttle service runs between 7:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. every day. Riders will be able to enter their preferred pick-up time, location, destination and additional comments for the dispatcher.

“This new system seems like it will be more efficient," sophomore Hayley Burgess said. "I personally have never used 4-RIDE, but a lot of my friends have complained about how slow the service is.”

Darrell Darnell, the Senior Associate Vice President at the office of Safety and Security, said the service should be more responsive, cutting down on the amount of time students have to wait on the 4-RIDE phone line and eliminating uncertainty as to when the van will pick them up.

"It gives students another option," Darnell said, "as well as puts stress on the dispatchers because it will be done automatically."

The phone reservation system will remain available to those requesting a ride. Riders can also sign up to receive e-mail or text message notifications when the shuttle is on its way. Still, some students remain skeptical of 4-RIDE's ability to cut down on its notorious delays.

“I’m not sure this new way will be more efficient," junior Alexandra Noghaven said. "It seems to me that it will probably just take longer to order 4rides the old fashion way. Still, I think the 4ride system is super helpful."

Each of the 17 4-RIDE vans will be outfitted with GPS technology. Deployed vans will be displayed in real time on a Google map on the 4-RIDE site, which will be accessible through myGW on computers and mobile devices. The three year contract will cost the university $90,000.

Students can visit my.gwu.edu and click on "4-RIDE" in the quick links section to make their reservation.

Mac Users No Longer On Gwireless

Apple device users returned to campus only to find that their Gwireless accounts were no longer functional. The Division of Information Technology switched Mac users on campus to GW1X for the Fall 2011 semester in an attempt to speed up on-campus Internet access. While students try to adapt to the network’s installation instructions, IT explains the reason and benefits for the change.

According to Rachel Blevin, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Division of Information Technology, GW1X is a secure wireless network for iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and Mac machines.

“It improves the user experience by keeping users logged in forever after they sign in for the first time,” said Blevin.

The Division of Information Technology chose to switch from SSL VPN on GWirless to GW1X because of the “trend of students, faculty, and staff having more than one device on the network at a time” and “to ensure that the wireless network is supportable across a broad range of platforms,” said Blevin.

Students' reactions to the switch focus on the instructions and the wireless connection. Visiting the IT desk or reference desk in all the libraries on campus has become a frustrating routine for some. For others, the network seems slower than before.

"At first I thought it would be convenient to not have to sign in every time I wanted to use the internet," said junior Sarah Perillo, "but I've found that this new network is so slow to start up that it doesn't save any time. The only improvement is that you won't get kicked off after five hours like on gwireless."

The instructions for setup were easy to follow, Perillo added.

The IT and Library staff have been working diligently to help students install and adapt to the new wireless network.

“To connect, simply log on to GWireless from a GW1X-supported device and open your browser, and you will see a web page with configuration instructions specifically tailored to your device,” says Blevin.

For help and instructions, go to http://helpdesk.gwu.edu/faqs/gw1x.html or contact IT at 202-994-2138.

University Launches Online Advising Tool, With Flaws

The University this week made its new advising tool, DegreeMap, available for all undergraduate students. The launch received mixed reviews from the GW student population, some praising the system's utility, others criticizing its inaccuracies.

The new online audit system comes after the University created a new school-wide advising committee and spent $500,000 hiring new advisers earlier this year, doubling the advising staff of its largest school, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

"[DegreeMap] made it easier to double check I had fulfilled all my requirements," said senior Nicole Longo. "I wish we had it freshman year."

The University made advising reform a high priority after students continually criticized the program's perceived lack of direction and support.

"You didn't get help unless you sought it out," said Jesse Regis, a class of 2011 graduate.

"I figured out everything on my own. There was a lot of room for error."

But DegreeMap still has its bugs. Some students found drastic inaccuracies in their online audit, as well as a lack of useful course recommendations and guidance they might receive from an actual academic adviser.

"It's just pure GW trying to make it seem like it knows how to use technology," senior Garrett Khoury said. "I'm sure once the bugs are figured out it might be useful... but I'll take ten minutes with my adviser any day."

The administration claims once the kinks are worked out, DegreeMap will free up more time for advisers to build a relationship with students, cutting down on the time spent looking up "routine information." Working out those kinks depends on student feedback, said CCAS Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Ullman.

"We didn't expect the audits to be correct for all students on launch day, and they weren't," Ullman said.

Reaching a correct audit for all students requires inputting tens of thousands of courses, petitions, waivers and exceptions, according to Ullman. The task could take several weeks.

DegreeMap will extend to graduate programs moving forward on a rolling basis.

CCAS students can share their DegreeMap concerns at

http://columbian.gwu.edu/undergraduate/advising/degreemap

-Joseph Rabinowitz

Hawk 'n' Dove Temporarily Closing

After serving as one of the District’s main bars and restaurants for 44 years, the Hawk ‘n’ Dove bar, located just a stone’s throw from Capitol Hill, will be temporarily closing its doors on October 2. The momentary shutdown is to make way for incoming owner Xavier Cerveza, who will take over the building’s lease, while the restaurant itself undergoes an overhaul for several months before it reopens next year.

Cerveza already owns a few bars in the area, such as Chesapeake Room, Senart’s Oyster & Chop House and Lola’s Barracks Bar and Grill, and seeks to open more restaurants in the area.

For the past few decades, Hawk ‘n’ Dove served as a common meeting place for lawyers, congressmen, college students and Capitol Hill interns.

Beginning back in 1967, the restaurant opened as a location where pro-Vietnam War “hawks” and their dissenting “dove” counterparts could congregate together. Since then, the bar went on to become its own landmark in the District for more than 40 years.

Terrance Lewis, a resident in Northwest D.C., came to Hawk ‘n’ Dove this past April to celebrate his 21^st birthday.

“It was the first time that I had been out to a bar after turning 21 and I had a great time,” Lewis said. “If they do a complete change, I’m glad I at least got to visit the bar before it closes for awhile.”

To celebrate, there will be events leading up to the restaurant’s closing, such as all of the items being auctioned off. Upon hearing this, Lewis stated that he would try to go down for the auction.

“Maybe if they look hard enough,” Lewis commented, “they’ll be able to find the mug I took up with me on the dance floor. Then I can buy it back.”

MLK Dedication Date Announced

After opening to the public on Monday, August 22, organizers postponed the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial due to Hurricane Irene. On Sunday, September 11th, the monument's architect, Ed Jackson Jr., announced that the dedication would be rescheduled for October 16. Organizers are already working towards bringing back the speakers and musicians who were set to perform. The Washington Post reported that President Barack Obama would speak at the event, with musicians Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, filmmaker George Lucas and actor Jamie Foxx serving as celebrity co-chairs.

The Alpha Pi Alpha Fraternity proposed the $120 million dollar memorial in honor of the Civil Rights Movement leader. Dr. King was one of the organization's most notable members. The memorial sits next to the Tidal Basin between the Lincon and Jefferson Memorials. Stay tuned to WRGW for more news about the dedication of the District's newest Memorial.