Marvin Center Governing Board (MCGB) Election Overview

by Sam Michel

As part of WRGW News’ ongoing coverage of the upcoming SA elections, we are previewing the competitive races. Today we take a look at the Marvin Center Governing Board race, where 9 candidates are running to fill 4 open seats. Below is an overview of the candidates, their platforms and their top priorities if elected. We encourage you to look to their campaign websites for further details about their candidacy.

Usama Khan

Year, Major: 2014, Economics/Finance

Top Priorities: Modifying J Street, redesigning the couch areas, making it easier for student orgs to book space

“GW has given me so many opportunities over the last 3 years, which I have seized with both hands. After taking so much from this school, I think it is time to give something back. 
I have always loved the Marvin Center. It is our student center, but I do not believe it is currently being used to its full potential. That is something I want to change. I plan on lobbying the board and fighting for student space, for the building to be more environmentally sustainable, and for making the Marvin Center feel more like a second home for students.”

Shelby Goodfriend

Year, Major: 2014, Interior Architecture & Design

Top Priorities: Making board members accessible to student orgs, increasing MCGB transparency

“My main priority is for MCGB to be a resource to students. This means posted office hours when elected board members can meet with organizations, transparency regarding student office space allocations and the student dining board as well as posting minutes about our meetings so students know what MCGB is actually doing.”

Campaign Website: http://www.facebook.com/ShelbyGoodfriendForMcgb

Paul Organ

Year, Major: 2014, Economics/Mathematics

Top Priorities: Transparency, efficiency, publicity

“I want to encourage more contact between the MCGB and news organizations like the Hatchet and GW Today, as well as expanding MCGB's presence on social media sites (specifically Twitter and Facebook) so students understand more of what MCGB is doing.”

Campaign Website: https://www.facebook.com/OrganForMCGB

John Paul Koenigs

Year, Major: 2015, International Affairs/Political Science

“The Marvin Center could be so much more than it is - it could be a place that makes every Colonial proud. We all have our own hopes and goals for the Marvin Center, I want to be in a position to hear your hopes, and help make real changes to our student experience”

Campaign Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Paul-Koenigs-for-Marvin-Center-Governing-Board/171863472964070?fref=ts

Graham I. Rabinowitsch

Year, Major: 2014, Organizational Science/Political Science

Top Priorities: MCGB accessibility, collaboration with the SA, RHA and student organizations, advocating for student space

“I am running for Marvin Center Governing Board because I feel that I can bring my experience in advocacy initiatives and collaborative activities to MCGB in order to revitalize the board, serve as an effective advocate for students, allocate office and storage space to student orgs based on need, and support student-centered programming.”

Campaign Website: http://www.facebook.com/girforgw

Ian Ceccarelli

Campaign Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ian-Ceccarelli-for-MCGB/254698461271042?fref=ts 

Ian Ceccarelli, Alberto Zayas Montilla, Glenn Richardson, and Elizabeth Kennedy did not respond by press time to our request for a comment on their campaigns. 

Student Association Proposes New Student Space Plan

by Myles Goldman

Editors Note: This story was edited on Friday, January 25th to reflect the University's response to the SA proposal.  Initially, the University could not be reached for comment.

The Student Association on Thursday officially released a new student space proposal designed to advance dialogue with the University on how to improve the student life experience at GW.  The plan titled, "Student Association Spring Report: Long Term Commitment to Student Space" is the second proposal Student Association President Ashwin Narla has led during his nearly 9 months as President.

The eight page report focuses on two areas on campus to be developed for student space, the Marvin Center 3rd floor outdoor terrace and the basement of the Square 77 project, which is informally known to many as the "Super-dorm construction project.".  In the case of the Marvin Center 3rd floor terrace the proposal specifically calls for the terrace to be renovated to allow for either a specific GW coffee store or a Starbucks, a graduate student lounge, meeting rooms for student organizations that would be built in a way that they could also be used for study rooms, and that access to the renovated space be 24/7 to students.

As for Square 77, which is where the University intends to replace Crawford, Schenley, and West End residence halls with a twelve-story dorm housing freshmen and sophomores, the proposal calls for the 60,000 square foot basement of the new building to be student space and possibly include more dinning options, the relocation of Student Health Services, which is currently located on K Street, and student lounges.  Additionally, the proposal requests there be a student present at each of the planning meetings for the new building.

The SA's proposal is a follow-up to the one they published in the early portion of the fall semester.  The first proposal included ten recommendations the SA suggested to increase student space.  Although the University took one of the suggestions in October and extended the hours Duques and Funger hall are open for students to study-in, GW did little to respond to the other suggestions.  In the cover letter of the proposal, Narla and Vice President Abby Bergren hope the new proposal will be able to move the discussion of student space on campus forward after they spent additional time researching student space efforts at "market basket" schools such as Boston University, New York University, and Tulane University.

The SA will now spend the next two weeks working to gain support from students for the plan.  The marketing plan for the proposal includes circulating a petition around campus asking students to sign that they support the plan, SA leaders meeting with Student organizations to talk about the plan, and the launch of a website: www.gwstudentspace.org, which talks about the plan, includes a copy of the plan, and gives students the opportunity to sign the petition.

On January 31st from 12-2pm the SA will host a rally in Kogan plaza for the plan with free food from Jetties, music, and an opportunity to sign the petition.

After February 6th, the petition will close and Narla plans to bring it with him when he meets with the Board of Trustees at their February meeting on February 7th and 8th.

It's not clear how many signatures the SA hopes to obtain from the student body.  One member of the SA said a target number had not been decided while another is telling student organizations that the SA's goal is to obtain 5,000 signatures.

On Friday University Spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard issued the following response on behalf of the University to the SA proposal.

"We continually work with student leaders to make improvements to the student experience on our campuses.  We will carefully review the Student Association Spring Report.  And, we'll continue to engage in dialogue with the Student Association, other student leaders, faculty, and philanthropic contributors to the university regarding further investments in the student experience including our physical facilities," Sherrard said.  
 
Narla is optimistic he will be able to work with University officials to make the proposal possible.

"They were very helpful [in regards to the first proposal] and I think they will be helpful on the second proposal," he said.

The entire proposal can be found at: www.gwstudentspace.org.

SA EVP Ted Costigan Talks 2012 SA Election

SA EVP Ted Costigan 2012 Election Special Interview by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

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.”

Indian Venue Opens in J Street

Those who have been to J Street over the past week may have noticed a chef giving out free samples of Indian food from a small table near the H Street entrance during the lunchtime rush. While J Street has had special events this semester such as the "Meet the Dietitian Program," this one was different. This tasting was to preview the new Indian venue, The White Peacock.

Starting on Monday, the White Peacock opened for a trial period in a more permanent spot, at the Burrito del Rey station. The trial will run for two weeks while Sodexo management assesses student response. During the trial, The White Peacock will be serving food from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while Burrito del Rey will serve its Mexican fare from 3 p.m. through 9 p.m.

The White Peacock serves traditional Indian cuisine such as Tandoori Chicken and Na'an bread while incorporating Vegetarian options into its menu. An entree portion is priced at $5.99, which is the same price as entrees at other J Street venues such as Burrito del Rey, Little Italy and Charlie Chiangs Kwai.

More changes could come for J Street in the future as the university readies plans to renovate the first floor of the Marvin Center. The upcoming renovation, which will remove the staircase in the center of J Street, will provide more floor space in the eatery and could mean further changes to venues. The university is also looking to keep J Street competitive in the face of new eateries opening in "The Avenue" complex on I Street.

Religion Department Lecture Open to the Public

Associate Professor of Religious Studies at The College of William and Mary, Julie Galambush will be giving a lecture on the New Testament as part of the Abbie Ziffren Memorial Lecture series. This free event is open to the public and will be held at the Marvic Center room 309 from 05:15 PM - 07:00 PM on Monday, April 11th.
The Topic for the lecture on the topic of “The New Testament: Jewish or Anti-Jewish?” will include time for a Question and Answer session with the audience following the event. Galambush, who was raised Catholic but is now an observant Jew, wrote the 2007 book “The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus,” which is intended for Jews and Christians alike.

"Study Zones" for Finals

In an effort to generate more awareness about what spaces are open during exam periods and extended hours in desired study destinations, GW has once again implemented the "Study Zone" initiative for this semester's finals.

Look for signs designating "Study Zones" across campus, including Duques Hall (now open till 2 a.m.), the Marvin Center, the Fishbowl, Eckles Library (now open 24 hours) and Gelman Library.

Also, Sodexo is holding extended dining hours for study zone. A majority of J Street Food Vendors, as well as G-Dub Java in Duques Hall, will be open until 2 a.m. from December 6th to the 10th, and the 14th to the 16th. Meanwhile, Pelham Commons will be open until 1 a.m.

For more information, go to: living.gwu.edu/studyzone

"Government Girl" Returns to GW

Stacy Parker Aab, a former GW student, returned to the Marvin Center Wednesday night for a book reading and signing for her memoir Government Girl. The book focuses on her life in politics, from interning at the White House as a freshman living in Thurston Hall to working in advance for President Clinton after the end of his administration. Aab began her political career by volunteering to aid the Inaugural organizing committee that was headquartered in the Marvin Center. After that January she was accepted for an internship at the White House.

A year after graduating, Aab returned to the White House as an aide. It was spring, 1998 - the Monica Spring. At Wednesday's event she read a portion of the book detailing her own scandal of that spring, when the details of her drug use were questioned by the FBI. Other readings included an "ode" to Secret Service agents and an account of her time with President Clinton in Nigeria in 2001. These passages, Aab said, meant the most to her. An audience member asked her what her greatest learning experience was, and Aab replied that it was coming to GW. Her gratitude to the university was overwhelmingly evident. To GW, she owes the title "Government Girl."

Outside Groups Get the Boot From Marvin Center

The Marvin Center is now reserved specifically for university-sponsored events. In a release to campus media, the university said non-student focused activities will not be permitted to rent space in the building during the academic year.

“Student-use and student accessibility of the Marvin Center is a priority for the University,” said Robert Chernak, senior vice president of student and academic support services. “This new model will better meet the needs of students and give them a central spot on campus for study groups, meetings and other gatherings."

Lorraine Voles, vice president for external relations, will now oversee the majority of the major venues on campus, including all outdoor University spaces, 1918 F St., 1957 E St., Marvin Center, Lisner Auditorium and the Jack Morton Auditorium.

University Events and University Conferences will be led by Michael Peller in his newly created position as assistant vice president for events and venues.

Mr. Peller previously served as managing director of the Marvin Center and University Conferences.  “Managing all of our on-campus venues in a single University division will make reserving space more accessible and efficient for students, staff and faculty,” said Ms. Voles. “This new organization will better serve the University community and allow us to maximize our outstanding resources.”

Specific details pertaining to new policies and information will be available on the University’s Web site.