Guide to Colonials Weekend 2010

It's that time of year again: the leaves are changing, midterms are in full swing and parents are coming to campus to visit for the annual GW Colonials Weekend. This year the university has planned more events than ever before, here are just a few of the highlights you don't want to miss:

• Colonials Invasion: On Friday night, the Smith Center will be filled with live music, giveaways, and performances to celebrate the start of the basketball season.
• Acapellapalooza: Come see all of GW's acappella groups perform in this annual charity concert on Friday night at 20th and G.
• Lectures from GW's 'Best' Faculty: Interesting and relevant lectures will be hosted through out the weekend in various locations. A few of the topics for the weekend include "Impending Global Energy Crisis: Fact or Fiction?", "Post Obama America," and President Emeritus Stephen Joel Trachtenberg will be lecturing on his opinion of Higher Education's future.
• Dean Breakfasts: On Saturday morning, every school will be hosting a Dean's breakfast for students' families to meet the Dean and invited faculty.
• Octoberfest: The Mount Vernon Campus will be hosting students, families, and friends for entertainment, games, arts, crafts and tasty fall desserts on Saturday afternoon at the annual Octoberfest event.
• Jimmy Fallon: Comedian Jimmy Fallon will headline the Colonials Weekend with two performances on Saturday evening (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.), tickets are still available through ticketmaster!
• Foggy Bottom/West End Neighborhood Block Party: On Sunday afternoon, FRIENDS, (a local community group to promote positive dialogue between GW and its neighbors) will host its eighth annual free event that includes over 100 booths from local businesses, restaurants, groups and institutions.

For more information and events, go to http://gwired.gwu.edu/parents/ColonialsWeekend/2010ScheduleofEvents/

Jon Stewart Performs for Colonials Weekend

[caption id="attachment_3043" align="alignright" width="225" caption=""Daily Show" Host Jon Stewart performed at Colonials Weekend. Alex Laska / WRGW News"][/caption]

This weekend, comedian and “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart performed for GW students and their families in the Smith Center as part of Colonials Weekend. The crowd roared as Stewart tackled such issues as the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay, computer problems, and his kids.

Stewart focused predominantly on political issues, justifiable given his roots in political news satire and the school at which he was performing. Stewart gave his take on the “Birther” movement, gay marriage, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and religion and the sciences.

Responding to the “Birther” movement, made up of individuals who don’t believe President Obama was born in the United States, Stewart simply responded, “Well, he doesn’t go door to door showing it to people.”

On gay marriage, Stewart said that he could only “see it being an issue if it was, well, mandatory.”

Segueing into his disdain for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which keeps homosexuals from serving in the military, Stewart sarcastically envisioned a scenario in which a lieutenant would shout “Private, shoot that man!” and the gay private would refuse to do so, saying “I can’t; he’s adorable.”

[caption id="attachment_3046" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="GW President Steven Knapp congratulates Stewart after the show. Alex Laska / WRGW News"][/caption]

Stewart also facetiously attacked minorities (being one himself as a Jewish man), telling them that they shouldn’t force everyone to celebrate diversity, such as in December during Christmas and Hanukkah. “They’re celebrating the birth of their savior,” he said of Christians who like to display Christmas trees in public places, “you’re celebrating the oil lasting longer than you thought it would.”

Occasionally Stewart would take on a serious tone, such as responding to critics of Bush – saying that he wasn’t stupid, he just had ideas some people didn’t like – and Obama – asserting that conservatives who think Obama is trying to take over the country need to learn that “there’s a difference between tyranny and losing.”

Despite some initial problems with hearing in the back of the gym-turned-auditorium, Stewart kept the audience laughing for the hour or so that he spoke, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation when he was finished.

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This weekend, comedian and “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart performed for GW students and their families in the Smith Center as part of Colonials Weekend.  The crowd roared as Stewart tackled such issues as the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay, computer problems, and his kids.

Stewart focused predominantly on political issues, justifiable given his roots in political news satire and the school at which he was performing.  Stewart gave his take on the “Birther” movement, gay marriage, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and religion and the sciences.

Responding to the “Birther” movement, made up of individuals who don’t believe President Obama was born in the United States, Stewart simply responded, “Well, he doesn’t go door to door showing it to people.”

On gay marriage, Stewart said that he could only “see it being an issue if it was, well, mandatory.”

Segueing into his disdain for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which keeps homosexuals from serving in the military, Stewart sarcastically envisioned a scenario in which a lieutenant would shout “Private, shoot that man!” and the gay private would refuse to do so, saying “I can’t; he’s adorable.”

Stewart also facetiously attacked minorities (being one himself as a Jewish man), telling them that they shouldn’t force everyone to celebrate diversity, such as in December during Christmas and Hanukkah.  “They’re celebrating the birth of their savior,” he said of Christians who like to display Christmas trees in public places, “you’re celebrating the oil lasting longer than you thought it would.”

Occasionally Stewart would take on a serious tone, such as responding to critics of Bush – saying that he wasn’t stupid, he just had ideas some people didn’t like – and Obama – asserting that conservatives who think Obama is trying to take over the country need to learn that “there’s a difference between tyranny and losing.”

Despite some initial problems with hearing in the back of the gym-turned-auditorium, Stewart kept the audience laughing for the hour or so that he spoke, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation when he was finished.

No profit motive behind parents weekend, official says

Comedian Jon Stewart’s Colonials Weekend appearance has many families saying, “It costs HOW much to go!?”

            Theories of profit motives arise and some families may elect not to pay the $50 to $90 per ticket to attend the performances, especially given the economic situation that is forcing families across the country to tighten their belts.

            While some can barely afford the cable to watch Stewart on “The Daily Show,” Peter Konwerski, Associate Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer with Student and Academic Support Services tells WRGW News that, “The money from ticket sales is generally expected to cover the costs of the programming that takes place on campus during Colonials Weekend. We basically are running a break even program here, not a revenue generator.  There is no surplus of funding which is turned back over to the University, since nearly every dollar in spending to produce the show is attempted to be recouped by ticket sales.”

            The university will not reveal the exact amount it is spending to stage the shows or the talent citing a confidential contractual agreement with Stewart’s management.

            Konwerski claims that his office receives very few complaints from students or parents about the affordability of the program, though he says it was important to both the university and Stewart to have a ticket value of less than $100.

            The prices are comparable to previous Colonials Weekends.

            Tickets for last year’s headliner, comedian Robin Williams, ranged from $57 to $125 dollars. 2007 Billy Crystal tickets ranged from $57 - $150. Jerry Seinfeld’s 2006 performance ranged between $57 and $125 dollars, though a portion of the money from Seinfeld’s performance went to scholarship funds for underprivileged D.C. public school students, according to archived press releases.

            Stewart previously performed at Colonials Weekend in 2005. General admissions tickets sold for $45.

            It’s a far cry from a 2000, non-parents weekend Jon Stewart performance where $8 dollar general admissions tickets were sold with the Student Activities Center giving away 300 free tickets at a women’s basketball game.

            Tickets to New York City tapings of "The Daily Show with John Stewart" are free.

            Konwerski said he would work with any student with “dire financial concerns,” but said there were a number of ways to attend among them, staffing the event.

            Other, lower cost Colonials Weekend options are available including Cabaret Showcase and Colonials Invasion. Ticket information for these events has not yet been released.

           Stewart will perform at the Smith Center at 600 22nd St. NW on Saturday October 17 at 7pm and 10pm. Ticket prices range from $50-90 each and will go on sale July 6. For tickets call: 202-994-7411 or visit http://gwired.gwu.edu/tickets to purchase tickets online.

- Jesse Regis

Stewart top choice for Colonials Weekend

[caption id="attachment_2114" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Comedian Jon Stewart. Used with permission of GW News Center"][/caption]

           A six month long process, similar to that of selecting the commencement speaker, led to comedian Jon Stewart’s invitation to perform two shows on Colonials Weekend.

           Student suggestions, parent input, and even psychographic assessments, among other methods, were used to identify Stewart as an option according to Peter Konwerski, Associate Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer with GW’s Student and Academic Support Services.

             “Jon Stewart was first choice among many lists and the first act we sought to sign,” Konwerski tells WRGW News.

            Following last year’s Colonials Weekend, which brought comedian Robin Williams to campus, parents were encouraged to fill out a survey asking for musical names, comedy acts, or speakers.

            “Key students and student leaders in the arts community [including] Program Board, Student Activities Center, Student Association, and WRGW Radio” were among student groups consulted according to Konwerski.

            The university reportedly also worked with the graduate level Event Management Program for the first time. The Spring 2009 class “Event Entertainment” worked with demographic and psychographic assessments, which identified potential acts.

            Trends among students were monitored through social mediums like Facebook, as well. Students not connected with any group, and even alumni were encouraged to submit names.

            This data was submitted to the Student Academic and Support Services office where additional information like the availability of performers, cost and format factored into the decision to extend an invitation to Stewart.

           - Jesse Regis

CI Briefs

Welcome CI-ers. From DC’s unique culture to Colonial basketball games to plenty of politics both on and off campus, we hope you grow to love GW as much as we do. If you’re looking for somewhere to fit in, stop by the WRGW tables at the CI student org fair. We’d love to meet you and if you’re interested in broadcast journalism, we want you to join our team! Just give us your email and we'll get you on the air in the fall. If you miss us at the fair, don't worry. You can email me at wrgwnewsdirector@gmail.com to let me know you're interested or to ask any questions.

Now on with the news!

• President Emeritus Stephen Joel Trachtenberg will sign copies of his book Big Man on Campus: A University President Speaks Out on Higher Education at Politics & Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., NW) on Friday (tonight) at 7pm. Trachtenberg's new book is about the current state of higher education. With more than 30 years of experience, Trachtenberg helps to reveal what goes on behind the scenes of running a university.

• Comedian Robin Williams will headline this year's Colonials Weekend, University officials announced last Friday. Williams will perform at the Smith Center Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday Oct. 18 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. July 8, and cost between $57 and $150, according to a news release. Peter Konwerski, assistant vice president for SASS, told the Hatchet that Williams was the "first and top choice" for Colonials Weekend.

• Women's basketball coach Joe McKeown, resigned this month after 19 years in Foggy Bottom to become the women’s basketball coach at Northwestern. McKeown announced his decision June 9 in Evanston, Illinois. "I just felt like I had been at GW for 19 years and I was very fortunate to have a great run there," McKeown told the Hatchet. "But Northwestern came after me and really emphasized the potential for women's basketball there, being in the Big 10." McKeown’s autistic son was a significant factor in his decision to move. Although McKeown’s contract was extended through 2014, Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz said there was no buyout in the move. Kvancz said he will begin the search for a new coach immediately and hopes to finish it as soon as possible.

• Pops Mensah-Bonsu is back in Dallas to try out for the Mavericks. While Pops was recovering from a knee injury that kept him from playing most of his senior year at GW, he played in 12 games during his rookie season with the Mavericks in 2006-07. After a stint playing abroad in Italy, he’s hoping for another shot at the NBA.

• A recent GW grad is already making a name for herself – as Miss DC. Kate Marie Grinold won the May 31st contest and will go on to compete in the Miss America Pageant in January. The Miss D.C. pageant awarded Grinold a $5,000 academic scholarship and she will now have the opportunity to compete for more scholarship money in the Miss America Pageant. The competition will be held in Las Vegas, and contestants will be filming a reality television show about the Miss America pageant this fall.

• GW's wireless network has expanded throughout the Marvin Center. Ronald C. Bonig, vice president and chief information officer, said, "This move gives the university community the flexibility to work throughout the campus and remain connected to our wireless network." This is part of a university-wide initiative to expand wireless connectivity throughout the Foggy Bottom Campus. The next buildings to receive wireless installations are the Academic Center, Media and Public Affairs Building, Old Main, Ross and Tompkins halls, and Fulbright and Thurston residence halls.
  


• Hillary Clinton suspended her run for the White House in DC last week. She spoke to 3,000 people at the National Building museum. Arriving 45 minutes late, she pledged her support to competitor Barack Obama saying, “So today, I am standing with Senator Obama to say: Yes we can.” Obama will be confirmed as the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this summer. Photo courtesy GW student Kat Overland.
  

• Friday the 13th was full of confusion in DC as a massive power outage crippled the center of the city. The outage was from the PEPCO substation in Chinatown and knocked out power for 30 blocks, including three metro station, for nearly three hours during the morning workday. Also, in a seeming unrelated event, two fires broke out in Metro Center station caused by smoldering stud bolts and while the station was only closed briefly, they added major delays to the morning rush. In fact, Metro had its share of problems last week. Besides Friday’s red line disaster, the orange line was affected three times last week, stranding commuters after a train derailed last Monday and then trains having to single-track around kinks in the line caused by the excessive heat near the West Falls Church stop. Investigations are underway for both the power outage and metro’s derailment.

• If you’re in DC this summer, a few new restaurants in our area are worth checking out. There’s a new Spanish tapas spot in Georgetown – Bodega. It’s open 11 during the week and until midnight on the weekends and boasts traditional Spanish tapas, much like Jaleo in Penn Quarter. Also new in the Georgetown area is Tacklebox, a lobster shack. From the same owners as Hook, Tacklebox is located next door in the old Georgetown Baglery. They offer affordable seafood and for all of you New Englanders – Lobster Boil pots to go. And finally, former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelson will be flipping burgers at his family’s new restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery which will open later this month. Located at 303 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, it’s only a few blocks from the Capitol South metro stop. Burger prices will likely range between $5.50 and $7.95. The Mendelson family has plans to open 50 nationwide over the next decade.

- Mallory Thompson

Crystal Lightens Up Parent's Weekend

In classic awards show style, President Knapp asked, “May I have the envelope please?” as he introduced this year’s Colonials Weekend performer – comedian Billy Crystal. As a host of the Oscars eight times and countless other awards show, the introduction was fitting. “What happens at the smith center, stays at the smith center,” was Crystal’s comedic theme as he poked fun at everything from politics to college life, including President Knapp. His show may not have been very family friendly, but audiences seemed pleased with the performance.

After a night full of laughter and a video from most recent time as host of the Oscars, Crystal pulled some volunteers up on stage with him for his final round of laughs. Joined by a mother, two college students, and President Knapp making animal noises and other sound effects, Crystal recreated a movie scene. In an interview after the show, Crystal told reporters he thought it was important for them to see their new college president in a new light. Crystal was in town a night early because he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy center. He then performed both Friday and Saturday nights for students and parents with a limited number of seats available to the general public.

- Mallory Thompson