Halloween Festivities 101

Halloween seems to be THE holiday for both kids and college students. But as college students, we celebrate that in a slightly different way.

What do students at GW do?

• Check out Embassy Row for trick-or-treating - just make sure that you go during business hours. Most embassies close at 5pm.


• Go to the season opener exhibition game at the Smith Center as GW takes on UDC. Wear a family friendly costume!


• Going to the drag race in Dupont Circle is always popular - it's in its 18th year! Its held on Tuesday at 9pm, but get there early to get a good spot!


• The most popular spot for Halloween night is M Street in Georgetown...a quick walk from campus bound to be overflowing with costume clad partygoers.


• If you're 21 or older, use the holiday cab service SoberRide. It's free up to a $50 fare...just call 1-800-200-RIDE from a DC phone number and a cab will come pick you up!

Just a few suggestions for a fun holiday. Happy Halloween from WRGW News!

Undercover UPD Uncovered

An untraceable unit of plain-clothed officers walking the Foggy Bottom streets to protect and serve may sound too dramatic to be true. But after receiving reports of undercover officers intervening in acts of crime across camps, WRGW Radio decided to uncover the real story behind this secret patrol unit. To get the details, we spoke with the woman who controls it all – University Police Chief Delores Stafford.

Chief Stafford revealed that the very presence of plain-clothed officers on campus is…well, not really a secret at all. In fact, they’ve been in existence since the department’s inception. Like other law enforcement agencies, UPD utilizes this resource to get officers into situations and scenarios where a uniform would be problematic. Anywhere for patrolling crowds at university events to bicycle theft sting operations, the very presence of an officer in normal street clothes has been effective in making Foggy Bottom a safer place to work and live.

So where can we find this secretive squad? Well, first and foremost, a plain-clothed officer could theoretically be any paid employee on the force. Even Chief Stafford herself has patrolled in such a capacity at times throughout her tenure.

WRGW Radio has also learned that the officers are not concentrated in any particular area on campus and there is no quantifiable number. So partygoers beware! After all, the mere notion that they are anywhere and everywhere is just the way Delores Stafford and the UPD expect to be one step ahead of crime here at GW.

- Jared Pliner

Rocky Horror Returns

If you didn’t catch it over the weekend, then you’d better be there on Wednesday night! That’s right – The Rocky Horror Picture Show is back at GW for the annual show courtesy of Forbidden Planet Productions.

Two midnight shows were held over the weekend, but there will be a 9PM showing on Halloween night in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The doors will open at 8:30PM, but to get a good seat, you’d better get there early!

Directors Paul Rozenberg and Andrew Springer have worked hard to bring the show to students this year and viewers can even expect a deleted scene from the movie coming to the GW stage for the first time.

For those who have never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show before, the cast leads in traditional Rocky Horror-style, Virgin Games. When asked for more information about the show, Rozenberg simply said, “That’s all I’m willing to give out for now – it’ll be a surprise.”

- Julie Hyman

Rate My Professor Problems

If you’ve recently tried to find out what professors you should take in the spring by using the website ratemyprofessors.com and couldn’t find GW, don’t worry – it’s back. The George Washington University listing on the internet’s largest listing of collegiate professor ratings has had some problems.

Students attempting to use the website for GW and typed “George Washington University” into its search option have only found a listing for the GW Law School in its results. But, GW was actually listed under one of the options – the listing for Boston University. When clicking on the BU listing, the GW page appears with all the correct information for the university and its affiliated professors.

GW students requested for the site to change the mislabeling and it has since been corrected. The website is a common source of information for students determining what course to take. The site offers peer commentary on professors and rates them based on easiness, helpfulness, clarity, hotness and overall quality. Since 1999, the website has had more than 6.8 million student-generated ratings of over a million professors.

-Lyle Leitelt

It's Here...

Despite all of the protests against it, Islamo-fascism week is here. The weeklong awareness week sponsored by the Young America's Foundation will feature panels, rallies and speakers.

The events began Monday with a panel on the Vern about Radical Islam with New York Times bestseller Micheal Ledeen and Daphnai Patel. On Wednesday from 2 to 4 pm, there will be a rally against the abuse of women at the Women's Studies Department where, according to the facebook profile, the YAF will be passing out literature. This event may be one of the more contested, but probably the most contested will be held on Thursday evening. The conservative activist and author, as well as sponsor of the nationwide Islamo-fascism week, David Horowitz, will be speaking at Jack Morton Auditorium at 8pm, with doors opening at 7:30pm. Tickets are required for the event and protests are expected. Finishing up the week, on Friday night at 8pm, Young America's Foundation will be showing, Obsession. The film is a documentary about radical Islam's war against the west and it compares radical Islam today with World War II Nazi Germany.

It's Spirit Week!

GW may not have a football team - but for all of you spirited students, this week is the time to officially break out the buff and blue. Spirit week began on Sunday and lasts a full week.

Some of the highlights inlcude:

• Voting for the Spirit Week President and First Lady here. This year's candidates for President are: Casey Pond, Marc Abanto, Mike Rossetti, Chris Burke and John Estrada. And for First Lady: Christina "Mo" Vazquez Mauricio, Alyscia Eisen, Lauren O'Donoghue and Gina Fernandes.


• Tuesday brings free popcorn to J street and Bingo night to HellWell.


• On the Vern, Wednesday night brings GW's version of American Idol. The winner will get to sing the National Anthem at Colonials Invasion.


• Represent your college in Thursday's Clash of the Colleges in the Hippodrome as the six different GW schools, in teams of six, face off in a fierce bowling competition.


• Friday brings the return of the highly anticipated Colonials Invasion with a tailgate cookout on G Street prior to the event. Also, rapper Fabolous will be headlining the event as the men's and women's basketball teams are introduced to the GW community.


• Kickin' it at the Vern wraps up the week with a soccer doubleheader on the Vern with free food and lots of giveaways.

For the full schedule, check out the spirit department's website.

Protests Take Over GW

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Hundreds of protesters took to the streets this past weekend during the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings that took place just steps from campus.

Mayhem overtook the streets of Georgetown on Friday night as upwards of 400 demonstrators, clad in black clothing and handkerchiefs chanted against the globalization policies of the organizations which the protesters believe harm poor countries, but benefit wealthy ones. Despite torrential rains, the march began at Washington Circle at 9pm and continued through the streets of Georgetown. The route was chosen because according to organizers, they see Georgetown as a symbol of excessive wealth. Dozens of law enforcement officers on motor scooters, bikes and even horses followed the protest anticipating vandalism because it has been an issue in past protests. Two were arrested for the alleged assaulting of a police office and one bystander was struck in the forehead with a brick, intended to shatter the glass of the Abercrombie & Fitch storefront. Two other storefronts were vandalized before law enforcement dispersed the crowd.

Saturday's protest took on a calmer town as demonstrators gathered near Murrow Park across the street from the IMF. The march became confrontational when protesters showed at the delegates upon their arrival. Police, clad in riot gear, forcefully dispersed the protesters who by then had began shouting at police and shaking the barricades.

- Jesse Regis

A Real Colbert Nation?

You've seen Stephen Colbert on television, but will we be seeing him in the White House come 2008? Last Tuesday, Comedy Central host, Stephen Colbert made it official and announced that he is running in the Presidential race, all in his home state of South Carolina. Colbert originally suggested he would run on Larry King Live, but now it is no longer a rumor.

According to CNN.com, South Carolina is one of four lead-off primary states that will likely play a crucial role in determining the eventual nominee of both parties.

So which party will he be running for? Colbert told Larry King that he would seek to run as both a democrat AND a republican, letting the people decide where he belonged. He also claimed, "There is something I could offer the campaign on a state by state basis, sort of like a test run."

GW sophomore, Ryan Deering, believes that, "Colbert is just trying to mess up the numbers and skew the votes for the real candidates running. All in all, it is still pretty awesome."

Other GW students have heard the buzz of Colbert running and are supporting him. Word spread fast when a facebook group "1,000,000 Strong for Colbert," popped up on the social network site. The group is similar to 1,000,000 Strong groups created for Obama, Hilliary, Guliani, or many other 2008 frontrunners.

But Colbert's run isn't a joke. All of the money donated to his campaign goes to helping South Carolina's classrooms get proper school supplies, aiding in education. Help his efforts here.

And if you can't catch Colbert's show on Comedy Central, check out his hew book, "I Am America, (and So Can You!)" in stores now.

- Connie Dekis

A New Director for the IMF

(Photo courtesy of the New York Times)

One of the best parts about going to a school that's right in the middle of DC is that you are surrounded by all kinds of governmental and other influential buildings. Although the International Monetary Fund isn't technically on campus - it's only a block from 2000 Penn - and definitely worthy of being considered semi-"campus news."

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the new IMF director will take is office on November 1st. He is a French Socialist and among other things, he is one of France's most reputed economists as the former French Minister of Economics.

He was appointed director last month and his candidature was initially proposed by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The U.S., China and most African countries supported Strauss-Kahn for the position as well. The biggest complaint - coming from some emerging countries as well as The Financial Times - is that a European is always appointed as head of the IMF and that leaders of other continents are always left out.

Strauss-Kahn will be president of the IMF for five years. One of his core priorities is to make sure that each country is properly represented and has equal input. "Africa, Asia and Latin American are not sufficiently represented in the IMF," and Strauss-Kahn says he wants that to change.

- Claire Bauchart

Witch Hunt for Illegal Downloaders?

Think nobody’s watching when you illegally download music from the web? Think again.

According to the Hatchet, a lawsuit was filed in late September by 10 record companies against 19 GW students who allegedly violated copyright laws. On October 11^th, a federal court approved a motion ordering GW to reveal the names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of the accused students.

Of the cases examined, most songs were downloaded off peer-to-peer networks such as Gnutella and BitTORRENT. One user reportedly downloaded 3,538 songs illegally, although most of the cases involved numbers below 500.

Kate Landau, a freshman at GW, says she doesn’t illegally download music anymore. “I didn’t think it was right to essentially steal music from the artist instead of giving them the credit they really deserve,” she said.

Another freshman, who wishes to remain anonymous in light of this article, has a different take on the situation, “I do illegally download music, but I also buy concert tickets, t-shirts and posters, so they’re making money off me anyway,” they said. “I don’t feel bad about a 99 cent song.”

The case here at GW is part of a nationwide movement by the recording industry to hold people, especially students, responsible for illegal music downloads.

- Maeve Duggan

Flier Controversy Update

GW has been engulfed in heated controversy since fliers were hung around campus on Monday, October 8th. The fliers read "Hate Muslims? So do we!" and cited the Young America's Foundation (YAF), a conservative group on campus, as the group responsible. Seven students unaffiliated with the group later admitted to hanging the posters to oppose Islamo-Fascism Awareness week, which is sponsored by YAF and will begin October 22nd.

Despite the group responsible for the poster's intentions, many on campus said they felt the fliers were offensive. "I think that the post they were trying to make was a good one, that there is a lot of racism towards Muslims. IT goes on event if its not talked about. The way that they went about it maybe went a little bit tot far because viewers didn't realize it was satirical. If that wasn't obvious, then the point wasn't clear, because no one knew," said one GW sophomore.

In response to the fliers, President Knapp issued a statement saying that "any violations of university policies that occurred in connection with the incident will be handled through the Student Judicial Services process without regard to the political views or affiliations of anyone found to be involved," and reiterated that "there is no place for expressions of hatred on our campus."

The enraged YAF responded by having two full page ads in the Hatchet. One was titled "A Forgery and A Hate Crime," and the other, "Stop Profiling Conservative Students." Both ads expressed their concern over anti-conservative sentiment at GW and the lack of action taken by the university int he hanging of fliers.

Lawrence Slocum, a GW senior, said, "As a conservative, I think the Young America's Foundation's letter to Knapp is very true. I think there's extremely liberal bias in terms of professors in the classroom and it's reflected in the student body. There's a stigma to being conservative here on campus."

- Julie Hyman

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

The Dalai Lama Visits DC

(Photo courtesy of wired.com)

On Wednesday, we had a special visitor to the District…and crowds of people flocked to the Capital in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. The Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest honor that our country can bestow.

It was quite a sight to see – Vibrant Tibetan flags waving in sync with American flags, against the backdrop of the gleaming Capital building on a bright blue day. No matter what the age, or motivation for being there, the crowd was in for a special treat.

Our current Dalai Lama was born on July 6, 1935 recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. In November 1950, he assumed full political power as the head of State and Government in Tibet. The Dalai Lama has worked all of his life to promote democratic principles, fundamental human rights, and the end of Chinese hostility and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his work in these areas.

In the Dalai Lama’s acceptance speech given in the Capital Rotunda, he thanked his American friends and congratulated our current administration for its belief in democracy and freedom. He wants America to play an active role to combat systematic inequality in Tibet. The Dalai also addressed the pressing issue of global warming and the importance of preserving our Earth for future generations.

Later, the Dalai Lama descended down the steps of the Capital, to address the crowd. An elite group, including Senate Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and acclaimed actor Richard Gere surrounded him. Besides creating blockbusters, Gere has spent the last 25 years working towards a Free Tibet, and currently serves as Chairman for the National Free Tibet Campaign.

The Dalai Lama has devoted his entire life towards the future of a Free Tibet. On September 1st of this year, China passed a new law, Order No. 5 that states:

“All Tibetan Buddhist teachers, including the Dalai Lama, cannot be reincarnated without the permission of the Chinese government.” This law has the potential to destroy Tibetan Buddhism, a perceived threat to Chinese Rule in Tibet. In Tibet today, the Dalai Lama’s photo is banned - Tibetans caught in possession of his image face the potential of arrest.

If you would like more information about working towards a free Tibet, or about the Dalai Lama, contact Students for a Free Tibet.

-Shawn Willis

Houses of the Future

Students from around the country gathered on the National Mall last week for the Solar Decathlon, a competition among twenty teams from colleges and universities throughout the country. According to organizers, students were required to design and build an energy-efficient home that is also attractive and marketable. Technishe Universitat Darstadt won first place for a home that the Architecture Jury said, “pushed the envelope on all levels.” According to reports, long lines formed outside the German team's house all week. The University of Maryland took second place, while Santa Clara University came in third. The George Washington University was not entered in the event.

Participants earned points in various categories that are important for the sustainability of Solar Housing Market including: architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort zone, appliances, hot water, lighting, energy balance, and getting around. The event saw heavy advertising throughout the city, especially in popular metro stops, as many expect solar power to be among the sustainable energy sources of the future.

Among the event's sponsors include The National Association of Home Builders,. the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, The American Institute of Architects, BP, and Sprint.

-Jesse Regis

Program Board's Fall Film Series

As part of GW Program Boards ongoing Fall Film Series, there was a special screening of the summer blockbuster Transformers on Thursday, October 18th in the Marvin Center.

According to organizers, the series is part of an ongoing effort by the Program Board to host "Free weekly screenings of Hollywood's latest releases before they hit DVD."  Periodically, Program Board hosts screenings of films before release to the general public. Some recent hits that have been screened to GW students before release in theaters included Knocked Up, Thank You For Smoking, and The Pursuit of Happiness.

Transformers, which came out on DVD this past Tuesday, is a film adaptation of the popular cartoon series based off of the successful Transformers toys. The film stars Shia Lebeuf and Josh Duhamel and is directed by Michael Bay.

-Jason Levin

Students Stressed Over Midterms

If you haven't had a midterm yet - consider yourself lucky! Its that season - Gelman is more packed than usual, the lines at Starbucks are growing and so are the stress levels that make many students anxious each year.

"Midterms are so nerve racking," says Giselle Alvarado, a freshman majoring in political communication. "I have huge problems managing my stress and just can't relax whenever I have a test."

Giselle is far from being the only student experiencing such problems. Fortunately, the University Counseling Center is designed to help students who are stressed out deal with stress during the mid-term period. Counselors consider that someone is stressed out when they experience physical disabilities such as headaches, change in appetite, cognitive problems such as difficulties falling asleep or fear of failure.

There are some easy ways to reduce stress - counselors agree that some of the most useful ones are laughing and having fun, as well as learning the basic skills of time management. For more information, contact the University Counseling Center at (202) 994 - 5300.

- Claire Bauchart

Students Admit to Hanging Posters

Seven students have taken responsibility for the anti-Muslim posters hung around campus on Monday, according to the Hatchet. The students, Adam Kokesh, Yong Kwon, Brian Tierney, Ned Goodwin, Maxine Nwigwe, Lara Masri and Amal Rammah, sent a letter to the Hatchet late Tuesday night saying that the intent of the posters was to counter the Islamo-Facism week.

"We regret that some people were unable to discern the intent of these posters and took offense. We wanted to wanted to counter the true hate speech that is embodied by the upcoming Islamo-facism Awareness Week. We hoped students would feel outraged and come together," they said. The letter was signed as "Students for Conservativo-Facism Awareness." View the full letter here.

Islamo-Facism Awarness week, sponsored by David Horrowitz, is scheduled for later this month on 142 campus across the nation and will feature events focusing on terrorism awareness. The students responsible for the fliers call the week racist although organizers disagree.

The local media has picked up the story, using it as one of the leads for two consecutive nights in a row. Even the pundit Fox News talk show, Hannity and Colmes, featured the story, bringing Sergio Gor, the president of the Young America's Foundation, Adam Kosech, a graduate student who was one of the students responsible for posting the fliers, and Jason Mattera, the national spokesman of the Young America's Foundation, to talk about the incident. Check out the clip on YouTube here.

Since the fliers were hung, the campus has been swarming with anti-hate events. Monday night, a peace forum was held with the GW community – the leaders of the Young America’s Foundation as well as leaders from many student organizations, the Student association and the Multicultural student center, SAC, and the president’s office.

In a statement released by President Knapp, he said the university "will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," and that "an investigation was launched to determine who was responsible for creating and posting [the fliers]."

It has not yet been determined what, if any, action will be brought to these students.

-Mallory Thompson

"Hate Poster" found in GW Dorms, Buildings

When GW students woke up yesterday morning, posters full of anti-Muslim sentiment adorned many of the residence halls and academic building hallways. The poster picturing a Muslim man pointing out crude characteristics shouted the words, “Hate Muslims? So Do We!!!”

The posters featured a link to the Terrorism Awareness Project and were attributed to GW student organization, the Young America’s Foundation. The organization sent out a press release earlier today claiming no involvement in the fliers.

The posters also contained the GW logo, what Tim Miller, the executive director of the Student Activities Center, said was a requirement for all approved student posters hung around campus.

“No one would have approved this poster,” he said. “…It was obvious to me that it would be read as anti-Muslim.”

Miller, along with UPD and the help of GW housing programs took down most of the posters before 8am.

In a statement released by President Knapp, he said the university "will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," and that "an investigation was launched to determine who was responsible for creating and posting [the fliers]."

- Mallory Thompson

AIDS Walk Washington

One in twenty adults in Washington D.C. is infected with H.I.V. Last Saturday, the District tried to do something about raising awareness. Participants put their feet down in an effort to stomp pout the virus during a 5K AIDS walk downtown.

Beginning at Freedom plaza near the Department of the Treasury, the route took participants down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the capitol and back. Upwards of 6,000 people attended the event according to its organizers, raining more than $1 million to benefit the Whitman-Walker Clinic, a non-profit community based provider of health care. D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty and Congresswoman Eleanor Norton Holmes spoke before the event, as did Chip Arndt, winner of CBS’s “The Amazing Race.”

The number of participants from GW was substantial with students from the College Democrats, the Student Global AIDS Campaign, the Public Health Student Association, the Organization of Latin American Students, and Allied in Pride all present at the march.

- Jesse Regis

New GU Party Policies Stir Resentment

Many GW students may not find themselves partying at Georgetown this year. The new semester marked the rise of strict new rules and regulations for any parties that occur on the campus of Georgetown University, despite the university’s decision last spring to allow kegs in the dorms.

These regulations include: Students who hold a party on campus over the weekend must register the party with the university by 10am on Thursday. The hosts of these parties can only have one keg per party and are prohibited from using equipment designed for use in high risk drinking games. Party size is also limited based on the size of student’s residence and ranges from about 25 to 50 people. Also, Georgetown University administrators are now authorized to notify parents of students who are under-age and are charged with a second alcohol offence.

Furthermore, the Current reports that on October 1st, another rule was implemented stating students throwing parties must attend an hour-long educational information session.

These new regulations have caused a lot of anger from the students of Georgetown University. Students have begun rallying together to change the rules. One example can be found online. Pat Depoy created and is president of the facebook group, “Work Hard, Play Hard – GU Students for Stopping the Madness.” “It is absolutely ridiculous, but we (GU students) aren’t stupid. All of the bigger parties have just moved off campus and into nearby town houses.” says Tori Fosdal, sophomore at Georgetown University and member of the facebook group.

As of now, the group has over 1,650 students who are want change to the universities new policies.

- Connie Dekis

Colbert is Coming! Colbert is Coming!

Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s Colbert Report will be coming to GW later this month. The comedian will make an appearance at Lisner auditorium on Friday, October 19th at 7pm. Known for coining the phrase, “Truthiness, justice and the American way,” Colbert’s popularity has increased in recent years among college students, especially those interested in politics.

His popular show and outlook of what the truth is has earned him an Emmy nomination and many other prestigious awards. Colbert does not plan to hold anything back for to show as he discusses his new book, “I am America (and so can you!)” There will be a book signing after the program.

Tickets went on sale earlier this month through the Smithsonian Associates, but they are now sold out.

- Sam Collins

How Do You Like YOUR Roommate?

Freshman year is full of new experiences, places and faces. Perhaps the most familiar faces will be that of you roommates. Hopefully, everyone gets along…but what happens if things go wrong?

This year, freshman were required to meet with their House Proctor and roommates and create a roommate agreement. Roommate agreements cover everything from studying and lights out, to alcohol and sex. They are the first line of defense should any problems arise. If conflict continues or escalates, the university offers a conflict resolution center.

The conflict resolution center is a department of the University Counseling Center. Its mission is to provide all students with a comfortable environment for immediate mediation and to foster long-lasting voluntary resolution skills.

Most mediation are proctored by a third-party, namely a conflict resolution center fellow. Started in 2006, the fellows program was designed for students interested in conflict mediation and communication education. Fellows are responsible for conflict coaching services, outreach and initiative and university-wide efforts to enhance communication and conflict resolution skills.

However, if mediation fails, there is one last option – a room swap. Provided online by the GW Housing program, students unhappy with their residence can fill out a profile online. Once submitted, all other profiles can be viewed. Once a compatible room swap is found, the tow students submit a joint request to swap rooms.

For more information on roommate agreements, contact your house proctor. For more information on the conflict resolution center or room swapping, visit the GW Housing Program website here.

-Maeve Duggan

Attack of the Birds

A flurry of birds canceled a blood drive on campus yesterday. At least thirty donors were sent home after birds were spotted in the rafters of the Smith Center around 11AM. Attendants were afraid that the birds would damage or contaminate the medical materials.

The drive was supposed to begin again at 3:30, but according to a university email, the drive was called off shortly before its scheduled reopening. David Earl, a junior, was the last person to give blood before the event was canceled. "I felt really bad for all of the people who had appointments and had to wait multiple hours [to donate blood] because of some stupid birds," he said.

The University’s email encouraged students to give blood at other drives on campus. If you’re interested, there are drives on Wednesday in Duques Hall from 9:30am to 3:30pm and on November 28th and 29th in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom from 9am to 8pm. Sign up online here.

- Mallory Thompson

Plans for Pelham Announced

Looking for peace, calm, and enough quiet to actually get your studying done? Now more students than ever will be able to live on the Vern.

Plans to expand Pelham Hall were unanimously approved last Monday by the DC Zoning Commission. The renovations will allow 287 students to live in the hall, a significant increase fromt eh 77 students currently living there. These additions will bring the total number of students living on the Vern to 690 by the year 2010, when the project is scheduled to be completed.

The smooth approval of the proposal showcased the constructive relationship the university has with its Foxhall Road neighbors. Fred Siegel, Associate Vice President and Dean of Freshman, who lives adjacent to the Mount Vernon Campus regularly holds community meetings in order to address complaints and discuss neighborhood issues.

The Pelham Hall renovations are part of a larger ten-year development plan for the Mount Vernon campus. But because the Pelham Hall project is larger than originally intended, the university had to seek special admission – hence Monday’s approval. Additional proposals are being put on hold right now as an “act of good faith” between the campus and neighborhood.

- Maeve Duggan