Students and Employees Protest Against Alleged Wage Theft

 By Justin Lee

 

A team effort between the Employment Justice Center, GW Progressive Student Union and the DC wage Theft Coalition gathered in Kogan Plaza on Thursday. They were joined by various other workers’ rights organizations to protest against BRAVO!, a company that allegedly withheld money from 11 members of the university cleaning staff this summer.

The protest opened with various leaders of the organization giving small speeches about how GW Students could get involved in helping the university workers. The megaphone was then handed off the two of the workers who gave their side of the story and explained the damages they received from the wage theft.

The group then marched over to Rice Hall to deliver a petition to GW ‘s Vice President of Operations, Alicia Knight. The petition has over 1,000 signatures on it.

The demonstration did not limit its scope to just the eleven victims of wage theft. Sam Nelson, Organizer of the Progressive Student Union, stated that this demonstration was meant to also give GW students some insight into the lives of GW employees.

“Even if only 30 people show up for this rally, the message is still in the public eye,” said Nelson. “The importance of this rally is for GW students to become more aware of what happens in the community around them.”

Approximately fifty people showed up for the demonstration with many other students passing by and stopping to listen.  

News at 6: Monday, April 15th, 2013

WRGW News at 6: Monday, April 15th, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Includes extensive coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings.

WRGW News at 6: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

WRGW News at 6: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Featuring interviews with Student Association presidential candidate Julia Susuni and executive vice presidential candidate Kostas Skordalos.

WRGW News at 6: Monday March 18, 2013

WRGW News at 6: Monday March 18, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Featuring interviews with SA presidential candidate Hugo Scheckter and SA vice presidential candidate Mike Adam.

News at 6: Wednesday December 5, 2012

WRGW News at 6: Wednesday December 5, 2012 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

News at 6: Monday November 26, 2012

WRGW News at 6: Monday November 26, 2012 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

WRGW News at 6: Friday November 16, 2012

Featuring a special report on sexual assault at GW, AU, and Georgetown.

WRGW News at 6: Friday November 16, 2012 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Construction for New Science and Engineering Hall Sparks Mixed Reviews

By Evan Ritscher

Beginning at 8 a.m. every Monday through Saturday, many GW students are awoken by a sound that can be heard across half of campus. The noise emanates from a construction site on H Street N.W., between 22nd and 23rd streets, one of many sites across campus. 

The construction site will be the home of the university’s new science and engineering hall, but right now it looks like anything but an academic building.

The area, which encompasses almost an entire square block, is currently just a deep hole in the ground containing construction equipment including about 10 bulldozers, excavators, large jackhammers, and a large crane. The giant machines that currently occupy the city street represent the dirty part of the process of change and improvement the university is currently undergoing. 

GW’s Board of Trustees approved the project in 2010 after a year of planning and design. Construction began in the summer of 2011 and is scheduled for completion by January 2015. 

Along with the construction of the science and engineering hall, GW is renovating Gelman Library and Ross Hall; constructing a new School of Health and Health Services building; reconstructing GW-owned properties along Pennsylvania Avenue; and constructing a new GW Museum, garage, and program space for the law school.

For university administrators, the construction, particularly that of the science and engineering hall, will further advance the school’s image as a leader in research and will also bring leaders in science to the university.

“The science and engineering hall will be that anchor that brings people into our community,” Steven Lerman, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said in a video discussing the project. “GW can be a convening place; it will bring people from all over the world into our community.”

Peg Barratt, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, also said GW “will be the hub for what is a world science center around the greater D.C. area.”

Still, the work is far from over and the school is currently in the middle of the noisy, dirty and disruptive stage of its improvement plans. 

“I don’t think a day has gone by without the noise in someway disrupting me, either while I’m asleep or when I’m trying to work,” Luke Austing, a Fulbright Hall resident, said.

Brian Shear, another Fulbright resident, said he understands the work is ultimately good for the university, but wishes the school would do more to minimize impacts on current students. 

In late August, GW Housing sent out an email to the residents of Fulbright, JBKO, Madison, and Munson halls saying the university was working to reduce “exceptionally noisy” activities in the early morning. The email also said the university provides free earplugs and loans white noise machines to students affected by the noise. 

Regardless of the noise, the university believes the construction furthers the university’s goal of transforming GW into a hub for academic research and discussion, and the construction will continue as the university moves towards expansion. 

For current students, the noise seems to be something they will just have to live with.

BREAKING: GW Storm Update

Monday, October 29th- 5:00pm:

The University will be suspending the Vern Express Shuttle Bus at 6:45pm this evening due to weather conditions according to University Spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard.  Sherrard said the last shuttle buses departing for both the Foggy Bottom Campus and the Mount Vernon Campus will depart at 6:45pm.  

At approximately 2:00pm this afternoon the Mount Vernon campus lost power and is now running on emergency generators.

For the latest University announcements regarding the storm go to the Campus Advisories website: campusadvisories.gwu.edu

 We will also update www.wrgwnews.com as the University makes announcements regarding the storm.

GW Celebrates Dual DC Centennials

By Myles Goldman

Pesky rain showers did not stop GW from celebrating its intertwined history with the City of Washington on Thursday.  Inside the drier confines of the Marvin Center Great Hall, the University commemorated the centennials of both the University's time in the Foggy Bottom Neighborhood and of Japan giving the United States its first Cherry Blossom trees.

"Today, we celebrate what it is to be part of-both in and of-our great capital," University President Steven Knapp said.

Originally scheduled to take place in the mid-campus quad behind Lisner Hall, the celebration was moved inside because of off-and-on rain showers.  Although a scheduled Cherry Blossom tree planting had to be postponed due to the change in location, the tree was still in attendance, standing at the front of the room.  It will be planted behind Lisner Hall in the near future.  

                                                         Haruka Nakagawa sings "Sakura Sakura."

The ceremony was focused on exposing attendees to Japanese culture.  The ceremony began with the reading of a haiku focused on the special nature of cherry blossom trees.  Later on in the ceremony GW student Haruka Nakagawa, a psychology major minoring in theater and music sang "Sakura Sakura," a popular Japanese song that is translated to mean "Cherry Blossom O' Cherry Blossom."  Nakagawa, who has spent much of her life in Japan, performed wearing a kimono given to her by her Aunt.  

"I'm very happy about the strong international relationship between two countries I feel connected to," Nakagawa said after the ceremony.  "I get to enjoy the season of spring [here in DC] the same way I do at home." 

Diana Mayhew, Chair of the internationally known  National Cherry Blossom Festival, also spoke at the event about the history of the trees in DC and GW's connection to the Cherry Blossom Festival.  Many students have volunteered and interned with the festival during its nearly one hundred year history.

"GW is the epitome of extending the Cherry Blossom festival to a campus," Mayhew said.

                                          JASA members practice their origami skills.  

                     

Throughout the course of the event the GW Japanese American Student Alliance (JASA) had a table set-up where attendees were able to try their hand at the art of origami and learn of the GW Chapter's efforts to raise funds for Japanese victims of recent tsunamis.

Following the ceremony, attendees who had signed-up had the opportunity to have a bento box lunch.  This is the type of packaged lunch students in Japan bring to school.  The lunch is known for being in a colorful box, layered with items of small samples of food such as several vegetables and pieces of fish.  

       

GW Overrun with Western Business Clad Middle Schoolers

This Saturday was the sixteenth annual Greater Washington Conference on International Affairs, or GWCIA. GWCIA brings middle school students from throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond together for an educational debate about major international issues.

GWCIA is designed to provide a valuable educational experience for participants. Debate is conducted in a professional manner and atmosphere according to parliamentary procedure. Delegates interact with their peers while they gain valuable experience debating current world issues. The conference, held at GW, emphasizes diplomacy and negotiation as a means for solving conflict.

GW students staff the event. As members of the International Affairs society, the staff is equipped with experience and knowledge of international relations and Model United Nations.

“I thought the conference was really well organized. I had a lot of fun, this was my first time staffing a Model UN conference,” said Grace Aucella, a GW freshman who worked the conference as a crisis staffer for the African Union committee.

This years conference highlighted a variety of topics, both historical and contemporary, covering diverse sets of interest and regions of the world.

"It was a good experience, since I usually compete in Model UN, it was good to get a new perspective of how a conference is run. I really enjoyed working with the middle school students because it is nice that they are so interested in international affairs at such a young age,” said Avani Singh, another freshman staffer.

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.

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.

"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.

GW Men's Basketball Coach Karl Hobbs Departs

Under uncertain circumstances, Karl Hobbs is leaving his position as head coach of the GW Men's Basketball team.

Around 4pm this afternoon, social media exploded with the news that Hobbs had either stepped down or been removed from his coaching position. From students to seasoned college sports writers, the story is still varied as to whether Hobbs was fired or chose to resign from the post. This news comes just days after the appointment of Patrick Nero to replace Jack Kvancz as GW's Athletic Director. One of Hobbs's last public appearances was as an attendee at a forum hosted by WRGW District Radio two weeks ago, a discussion with Kvancz and veteran sportswriter John Feinstein.

Tune in and CALL IN: (202) 994-9749 as WRGW Sports discusses Hobbs's tenure at GW, the circumstances of his departure, and the future of GW Men's Basketball.

Go to GWRadio.com to listen live

Flash Floods Disrupt Classes

A GW InfoMail released minutes ago indicates that classes in Ross Hall have been canceled as a byproduct of flash foods in the District.

PEPCO, an electric service provider for the tri-state area, turned off electrical power feeds to Ross Hall due to flooding over the banks of the Potomac River. All classes located in Ross Hall have been canceled for today and this evening. The Himmelfarb Library has also been closed.

The InfoMail states that PEPCO has no estimated restoration time yet.

The flash flood warnings issued by the U.S. Meteorological Service for the District have been anything but routine this afternoon. The InfoMail noted that the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station has also flooded, but remains open. No word yet on what effect this is having on service at that station.

The Georgetown neighborhood is also seeing substantial flooding. The Hoya, Georgetown University's student newspaper, reports that Washington Harbour Shopping Plaza (more commonly known as the Georgetown Waterfront) is currently under multiple feet of water. The levee separating the area from the Potomac broke this morning. Buildings in the area have been evacuated.

Keep watching WRGW News for updates on the impact of this severe weather on the District and on GW's campus.

After Tuberculosis Break Out, Testing at GW

A suspected case of tuberculosis (TB) has been identified at the university, according to a statement released through GW InfoMail. Student Health Service and other GW administrators are working closely with the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH), and have identified individuals in the GW community who were in close contact with the infected individual.

Tuberculosis testing will be going on in the Marvin Center basement room previously occupied by FedEx/Kinko's soon. However, media officials stressed "there is no need for the larger George Washington community to take any specific medical precautions or actions at this time."

Check back to WRGWNews.com for updates regarding the outbreak and the university's plans for treating it.

BREAKING NEWS: Sec. of State Clinton to Speak at GW this Tuesday

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be coming to GW this Tuesday February 15th. Clinton will be delivering a speech on “Internet Rights And Wrongs: Choices; Challenges In A Networked World" at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the Jack Morton Auditorium, on the first floor of the School of Media and Public Affairs building.

The speech was described as "major" in a statement released late Friday afternoon by the Office of Media Relations for George Washington University.

Check back with WRGWNews.com for coverage of the event next week.

New Housing Option Offered to GW Students

If next year, GW students that are involved in a certain organization or have similar interests want to live together, GW is offering Affinity Housing. It is less structured than the LLC program and will be living communities based around particular needs and interests.

GW Housing Programs says the goal of the program is to provide opportunities for students to extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom into the living environment and invite students to create such opportunities for themselves.

Each Affinity Group must have at least 10 members with a Group Coordinator, who will serve as the main point of contact for GW Housing programs.

In order to apply, all members must have at least a 2.5 GPA, no active record with SJS, and submit an online application no later than February 10th at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, go to living.gwu.edu

Gender-neutral housing coming to GW

GW announced late Thursday afternoon that gender-neutral housing will be offered for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Equal Housing Opportunity Act (EHOA), a proposal presented by current senior Michael Komo to the GW Student Association Senate last January, was the catalyst for the decision. After the SA voted to approve the motion last year, it was sent on to the GW administration for consideration. Their decision yesterday came after months of debate by students and administration staff alike.

The new program will allow all students to live with one another, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Begininning this fall, all GW students, including freshmen, will be able to opt-in. Students will not be randomly assigned in to the program to live with students of different genders; all students who wish to live in opposite-sex housing must specifically request to live with students they know.