Don't Panic! We'll be back soon.

WRGW thanks everyone for a great semester and your continued support. From the Democratic National Convention in Denver to on-campus election coverage, our "Factions" College Republicans / College Democrats debate, Secretaries of State at Lisner Auditorium, the Student Association, Greek Life, Law and Order, Sports, Music, Movies, and more we were there and you listened.

We resume coverage in January and will bring you more news than ever from a student perspective. Until then, Happy Holidays from WRGW!

Greek Life Expands

Last Thursday, Delta Tau Delta officially made its return to GW with its pledging ceremony for the new pledge class. Delta Tau Delta left GW four years ago following hazing incidents. The national chapter sent men to restart the colony once all of the former members had graduated. Advertising simply by word-of-mouth, the use of the Greek society, and tabling at the Marvin Center, there was a total of 57 pledges for the fraternity’s return. The executive board of the fraternity was chosen prior to the pledging ceremony, and will now take over as the ones running the fraternity, with assistance from a member from the national chapter.

Also new to campus this semester is Chi Omega Fraternity. The sorority is recolonizing on GW’s campus after a 40 year absence. The sorority’s pledging process began over a month ago with 114 girls. Chi Omega is the largest women’s organization in the country, even larger than the Girl Scouts, with 1 of every 4 Greek women being a Chi Omega.

The return of these two Greek organizations along with a general higher interest in Greek life on campus, raised the percentage of GW students involved in Greek life from 19% to 21% this academic year.

-Zahin Hasan

George Mason MSA Wins Saudi Arabia Trip

Over a dozen schools were represented this past Saturday at the Battle of the MSAs, a Jeopardy-like competition in which the Muslim Student Associations of DC area schools competed.

Fourteen schools were in attendance, forming seven rounds of competition. American University, who went on to the final round of the event, eliminated GW in the first round with a surprise come-back. The winner of the event was George Mason University. Their team won a trophy, team medals, and a fully sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage, which was donated as a prize by an anonymous donor.

Want Inauguration Tickets? Good Luck.

First come fist serve seems like kindergarten etiquette – the way that things have always been done. Unfortunately so is sharing and it may affect your chance of getting inauguration tickets.

Washington is a place where relationships play a major factor in getting things done. With tickets being distributed through Congressional offices some worry that legislators will begin dolling out tickets to friends, family, colleagues, retired officials and notable figures before the general public has a shot. Congressman are not required to disclose who the tickets are given to.

240,000 free tickets will be distributed to the 535 members of Congress with each office receiving between 200 and 500 tickets. Hotel rooms within 150 miles of Washington are booked, the stages are in construction, and officials are preparing for upwards of 4 million people to pack the length of the National Mall. But considering Washingtonian culture it will be difficult for many to receive tickets – and being first may be meaningless as some offices are considering lotteries. Others may reduce the five ticket maximum per family. Some have stopped taking requests all together including D.C. Congressman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

And don’t even think you’ll get close to the festivities. 1,600 of the 240,000 tickets will allow access to the areas closest the stage. According to the Washington Post power figures like Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, Medal of Honor winners, and federal judges will be filling these seats. Others will line the Mall and watch the swearing in over giant screens.

-Jesse Regis

Law & Order: GWU

First up from Lafayette Hall, an argument between two roommates turned physical. One of the individuals contacted UPD to report that his roommate had hit him. The victim is not filing charges, and the case has been referred to SJS.

In Ivory Tower, more roommate problems necessitating police involvement, this time between two female students. The two students were once roommates, but one had previously moved out. She filed a complaint with UPD for harassment.

Multiple cases of vandalism were reported on campus: first, in ivory tower, several ceiling tiles were broken by a moving crew. The parking garage entrance gate to the Marvin center parking garage was again reported broken, likely damage from a car entering the garage. And finally in Thurston, officers responded to a report of vandalism to find that a whole fire extinguisher case had been completely ripped out of the wall.

And last, an assault case from Thurston Hall. A female student, not a resident of Thurston, reported that she was assaulted while sleeping. The assault was physical but not sexual; apparently, a few male students pulled a prank on the girl but it was not taken that way.

-Jenn Neuner

Weekend Brings Protests, Depsite Rain

As our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. is a prime setting for a wide range of protests. This past Saturday was no different, as multiple protest groups gathered on and around the National Mall under cloudy skies, armed with signs and chants.

According to the Associated Press, some of the causes were Tibetan Independence, Chinese Human Rights policies, and even pro-Chinese government. But the most notable crowds were in protest of the G-20 summit and the passing of Proposition 8 in California, gathering hundreds of protesters.

G-20 is a summit that is held to discuss economic growth and stability of the financial system worldwide. Protesters congregated in front of multiple locations, including the world bank building and the National Museum Building, site of the summit. They held signs denouncing capitalism and the prioritization of free trade over free people.

Proposition 8 is an amendment passed by ballot vote in the State of California that restricts the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The protesters planned to go from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and then on to the White House, despite the morning rainstorms. However, the weather effectively ruined the strength of the protests as the rain turned into torrential downpour come afternoon. Many people ran for cover or returned home to get dry. But a legion of the most dedicated remained through the afternoon to march through the Mall, signs and umbrellas in hand, fighting through the rain for equal rights for all.

-Jenn Neuner

SA Update

The SA is considering putting rules into place to limit conflicts of interest between senate legislation and student organizations that senators are involved with.

The Senate met last night at 9:00pm in the Marvin Center for its 5th regular meeting, to consider SB-F08-04, a bill sponsored by Steve Glatter that would limit the ability of senators to participate in debate regarding bills in which they have a perceived conflict of interest. The bill posits that “voting members of the student association senate shall not participate in debate of bills or amendments particular to the appropriations for student organizations of which they are an executive financial officer.”

Also, the Office of the EVP has created a survey of student concerns going into Thanksgiving Break, which consists of only 4 questions and can be accessed via the SA homepage. The survey allows you to rate various aspects of life at GW, such as costs, entertainment options, housing, campus spirit, athletic events, dining hours, cost of food, faculty and internship availability, as well as overall academic experience.

-Monika Wysocki

For Some, An Obama Win is Sign of Hope

Race relations in America in the wake of the 2008 presidential election…

That was the topic this past Sunday on WRGW’s News In-Depth with Jared Pliner.

The exclusive guest was Michael Tapscott, Director of the Multicultural Student Services Center here at the George Washington University.

For nearly an hour, Tapscott answered questions and provided insight on the significance of Barack Obama’s election to African Americans, what milestones the victory marks, and what work still has to be done.

On the broader implications of President-Elect Obama’s journey to the White House, Tapscott noted:

“It’s a sign of hope, it’s a sign of prospect and it’s also a sign of growth in American culture and American society, in terms of how it embraces race and difference.”

When asked what Dr. King would have said had he lived to see the outcome of November 4^th, Tapscott responded that he would have been proud but cautious: “This is not the mountaintop. The mountaintop is still somewhere down the road.”

For more information on the GW Multicultural Student Services Center and its programming you can visit its website at gwired.gwu.edu/mssc.

And for the very best in college radio, you can listen to WRGW’s news in depth, Sundays from 12 to 1 pm with Jesse Regis and Jared Pliner.

-Jared Pliner

ISA Presents Annual Diwali Show

Last Saturday, the Indian Students Association presented its annual Diwali show in the Continental Ballroom at the Marvin Center.  Accompanied by a buffet of free Indian cuisine, the Indian Students Association showcased classical and modern Indian dance, choreographed by the students themselves and presented before a large, enthusiastic audience. 

Acts included Fresh Kids on the Block – a medley presented by the freshmen of the ISA, Bhangra, a famous genre of Indian dance that has folk routes and can be seen in different styles all over the globe, and a skit performed by the members of the ISA, depicting an Indian exchange student who falls in love with a girl while working his UPD shift at a dorm.  GW graduate students performed in the showcase as well. 

Also present at the Diwali show was the Caribbean Students Association, who performed and gave a presentation on their club.  CSA president Jodian Thomas said she looks forward to what she hopes will be a “long friendship with the Indian Students Association.” 

After the showcase, raffle tickets were drawn, and the winners were awarded gift cards to the GW bookstore and a box of Belgian chocolates.  Students then migrated to Patcha, a club on P Street that went 18+ for the night, to finish out the evening’s festivities.

-Alex Laska

DC Sports Update

The GW men’s basketball team had a surprisingly strong performance in their exhibition game last Saturday against Division 2 opponent West Georgia, winning by a final score of 101 to 71. The young team showed marked improvement as 10 different Colonials scored during the contest. The men’s team will play their official season opener this Friday at Boston University.

Keeping with basketball, the Washington Wizards have yet to win a game. Losses to Milwaukee, New York, and Orlando this past week kept the Wizards in last place for the league. They are currently the only winless NBA team. On a more positive note, the Wizards are hosting the first college night of the season this Wednesday, featuring $10 tickets if you show your GWorld. Visit the Wizard’s website for more information.

The Washington Capitals suffered an overtime loss in Ottawa last Tuesday, but rebounded with victories against Carolina and the New York Rangers. Alexander Semin scored in the last 11 seconds of the game to secure the win against Carolina on Thursday. Goaltender Brent Johnson made 28 saves on Saturday against the Rangers as the Capitals took out the NHL’s top team. Olaf Kolzig will return to the Verizon Center tonight as the Capitals play the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first time this season. olie the goalie, originally drafted by the Captials in 1989, holds the record as the longest tenured athlete in the history of DC sports. The puck drops tonight at the Verizon center at 7 pm.

Finally, the Washington redskins had their bye week this past Sunday. Their next game is at home against the rival Dallas Cowboys.

-Joe Lewis

Law & Order: GWU

Up first, a female unaffiliated with GW was charged with simple assault after University Police officers stopped her on the street. The individual was having difficulty walking as she made her way down the middle of the street as a result of her intoxicated state. She became disorderly and assaulted the officers, who brought her to the hospital to be treated and then transported her to Metro Police 2^nd District.

A drug case in Fulbright Hall: UPD officers responded to a noise complaint, and entered the room in question after the occupants didn’t respond to a knock. The officers witnessed marijuana in plain view, and therefore contacted the community director on call to perform an administrative search. Among the items confiscated were 9.3 grams for marijuana and sleeves used for manufacturing fake IDs. The three male students occupying the room were all taken to Metro Police 2^nd District.

Another noise complaint resulted in drug confiscation in West End Hall; officers observed 5 individuals drinking and smelled marijuana. A community director’s administrative search resulted in the confiscation of approximately 4 grams of marijuana.

And finally from Mitchell Hall, the 7 Eleven reported a disorderly person. The individual was harassing patrons and placing items in his pockets without paying. It was determined that the man had previously been barred from campus three times. He was arrested for trespassing.

-Jenn Neuner

Music Minute

iTunes Top Five

1. You Belong With Me- Taylor Swift


2. Heartless-Kayne West


3. Live Your Life-TI


4. If I Were a Boy-Beyonce


5. Womanizer-Britney Spears

Upcoming CD Releases
November 11^th
Christina Aguilera- Keeps Getting Better
David Archuleta-David Archuleta
Tracey Chapman-Our Bright Future
Deborah Cox-The Promise
Missy Elliot-Block Party
Enya-And Winter Camer
Gnarls Barkley-Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
Music Soulchild- On My Radio
Seal-Soul
T-Pain- Thr33 Ringz
Taylor Swift-Fearless

Concerts this Weekend:
Friday
Common-Love
Hellogoodbye-Sonar
Dar Williams with Lucy Wainwright- Birchmere
Joel McHale-Warner Theatre
Saturday
Alejandro Escovedo-Avalon
Cassandra Wilson-Warner
The Decemberists-Rams Head Live
Dark Star Orchestra-930
Sunday
The Cheetah Girls-Verizon Girls
Alejandro Escovedo-Birchmere
Ben Kenney-Black Cat

-Taylor Barnes

Little Change in Local Elections

The obvious focus of last night’s elections was the Presidential race, but what happened locally? Some may not know, but George Washington University is in Ward 2. For city council, Democrat Jack Evans easily beat Republican Christina Culver. Evans has been City Councilmember of Ward 2 since 1991. Mary Lord had no problem winning Ward 2’s school board position because she ran unopposed.

While D.C. doesn’t have official voting Senators and Representatives, they do elect shadow congressmen to help lobby for D.C. statehood. In the D.C. Senate election Democrat Paul Strauss easily won the seat with 82% of the vote. Democrat Mike Penetta won the seat in the D.C. House with 87%. For City-Council-at Large, Democrat Kwame Brown won, beating several other candidates. Finally, Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton dominated at the polls for U.S. Delegate, beating her opponent, Republican Maude Hills.

-Roxanne Martin

All Quiet at GW Polling Place

In continuing election coverage here at WRGW, our very own campus polling place at the Smith Center was rather calm yesterday, with none of the hour-long lines that some of our professors had to endure in Virginia and Maryland. Voters did not report any problems with the machines, and the only thing remotely unpleasant about the day was the steady drizzle of rain that persisted all morning.
The steady trickle of individuals coming to the Smith Center to vote seemed to be mostly employees of local government buildings.

Daniela Karlin, a graduate student at the Elliot School, was standing on the corner of 22^nd and G streets from 12 noon to 4 pm, handing out fliers with numbers to call if you need a volunteer-organized ride to your polling place or if you see someone’s voting rights being violated. Karlin reported that many of the students she spoke with had already voted via absentee ballot, and most of those students had voted for Barack Obama.
Karlin also was handing out fliers reminding voters that they would have to cover up their campaign shirts or buttons inside the polling place, but that they could not be denied the right to vote on account of wearing campaign apparel. She expressed excitement about the election, and cautious optimism about Barack Obama’s chances of winning, citing the Bradley effect as a possible distortion of the various national polls.

- Monika Wysocki

Ibsen's Hedda Gabler Comes to GW

Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler was performed this weekend at the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. Gabler is one of Ibsen’s most well known plays, and tells the story of a socially devious and ever climbing housewife who believes she has been put into the wrong by marrying a lack luster scholar.

The play opened for a special preview on October 29^th to great reviews, and had a theatrical run until a November 2^nd matinee. Alan Wade directed the play and Samantha Schaeffer designed the beautiful set. The play stared Patrick Pasake as Hedda’s husband, George, and Madeline Ruskin as Hedda Gabler.

Hedda Gabler is the Marvin Center’s second Mainstage performance of the fall semester. The next performance will be Danceworks, which begins its theatrical run on November 20^th, at 7:30 pm. for more information on shows and events at the Marvin Center visit their website at http://gwired.gwu.edu/marvincenter.

-Pat Miller

Election Night at GW

DC was the place to be last night as Barack Obama made history, winning the 2008 presidential election and becoming the first African American president in the history of the United States. 

The College Republicans and College Democrats started their election parties off at 7 pm on the 3^rdfloor of the Marvin Center with food, drinks, and of course big screens that televised live coverage of the incoming results. Activities included a mechanical bull on the red side of the grand ballroom and a jousting ring and “blogging” section on the blue side. 

It was easy to tell from early on in the evening how overwhelming the support was for presidential candidate Barack Obama.  Hundreds of people were packed into the College Democrats side, chanting, shouting, and cheering as the result poured in, while the red section was remained quiet for much of the night.

Jay Herman, a sophomore at GW said, “Barack Obama is good on all the policy issues but his appeal goes beyond that.  He has inspired millions of people to participate in their democracy.  He is a once in a lifetime candidate.”

The support from GW students also reflected in the polls, as 95% of D.C voted for Senator Barack Obama while only 5 percent voted for Senator John McCain. 

The night was capped off with hundreds of students storming the White House to rejoice in the victory of this historical election.

-Haley Lesavoy

GW Votes Delivers

On the eve of one of the most historic elections of recent memory, the GW Student Association’s voter registration initiative – GW Votes – is boasting record numbers.

While the figures have yet to be completely tabulated, SA President Vishal Aswani told WRGW that GW Votes delivered absentee ballots to and registered just around 1,700 GW students. It is by far the most successful year in the voter campaign’s 4 year history.

The process is quite simple: go online, enter the student’s zipcode, download a state election ballot and election rules, and within 36 hours, mail the forms… all on the SA’s dime.

In the days and weeks leading up to tonight’s finale, the initiative had expedited its turn-around times from 36 to 24 hours in hopes of ensuring on-time ballot arrivals to some of the nation’s most important battleground states.

President Aswani noted that ballots were sent to many of the 2008 swing states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Colorado and others. In fact, the most ballots mailed to a toss-up state, went to the one that decided it all in 2000– Florida.

And while GW Votes has seemingly done its part this election cycle, GW waits on the rest of the country to do theirs tonight.

-Jared Pliner

Pre-Election Party

Less than twenty four hours before the polls opened on election day, the GW College Democrats hosted a pre-election rally Monday afternoon to prepare its members for tonight’s election results party in the Marvin Center, where the CDs and CRs will gather to watch the election returns.

The rally, which took place in Kogan Plaza, featured the “Yes We Can” drive, in which students donated nonperishable food items to be donated to charity in exchange for an official Obama/Biden rally sign to wave at the election results party. Students could also make their own banners, using the markers and paper supplied by the CDs.

Tonight’s party will be taking place in three different rooms in the Marvin center: the CDs and CRs will each have a separate ballroom on the third floor, where they will be watching the returns as they come in. Program Board will be hosting the actual party in Columbian Square, which will feature food from Sodexho and Crepeaway, and activities such as balloon darts, spin art, and patriotic tattoos.

The CDs are advising all party attendants to bring a blanket and pillow, in case of a long night.

DC Sports Roundup

This week marks the beginning of the GW basketball season for both the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s team will play the DT-3 All-Stars, a group of former college players, in an exhibition match this Wednesday at 7:30 pm in the Smith Center. The men open in an exhibition against West Georgia on Saturday at 2pm, also at home.

Keeping with basketball, the Washington Wizards lost their first two regular season games against New Jersey and Detroit this past week. The Wizards travel to Milwaukee for their next game on Wednesday.

The Washington Capitals defeated Nashville at home last Tuesday in a 4 to 3 shootout victory but were shut out against Buffalo in a 5 to nothing loss on Saturday. Star forward Alex Ovechkin was absent for both of those games as he has been in Russia spending time with his ailing grandfather. Ovechkin returned in time for practice today and will be in the lineup for tomorrow’s game as the Capitals travel to Ottawa to face the Senators. The puck will drop for that game at 7:30 pm.

Finally in football, the Washington Redskins will play tonight at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Redskins go into the game with a 6 and 2 record. Wide receiver Santana Moss is listed as a game time decision to see if he will play tonight. Moss missed practices this week after suffering a strained hamstring in the Redskin’s win over Detroit. He is currently the 7^th ranked receiver in the NFL with 658 yards for the season. Kickoff for tonight’s game is schedule for 8:30 pm.

-Joe Lewis

Greek Week Aims for Campus Unity

Saturday marked the exciting conclusion to Greek Week 2008. A barbecue held at Kogan Plaza brought the teams together for the last time to announce the winning team, as well as Greek God and Goddess for this year.

Greek week is a series of events meant to celebrate the Greek community, fraternities, sororities, and multicultural organizations alike, while raising money for a philanthropic organization.  This year, profits went to a local food bank called So Others May Eat. This year also marked the first time that the multicultural community has been included.

Greek week fostered friendly competition as members of the Inter-Fraternity council, Pan-Hellenic association and multicultural Greek council were split into teams and pitted against each other in the Olympic-themed events. The winning teams for some events were determined by participation points, such as the unity ball and a forum on Greek Life led by guest speaker David Stollman. Other events, including the date auction on Monday, an Olympic relay on Tuesday, a pumpkin carving contest on Wednesday and the talent show on Thursday night all consisted of first, second, and third place finishes. The participation points and place finishes were tallied to determine the final results:

Third place went to the white team - Alpha Phi, Sigma Chi, Phi Sigma Kappa, and Sigma Psi Zeta. Second place went to the black team: Sigma Delta Tau, Zeta Beta Tau, and Pi Kappa Alpha. First place was awarded to the blue team: Phi Kappa Psi, Alpha Delta Pi, and Iota Nu Delta. The titles of Greek God and Greek Goddess went to Jack Burmingham of Phi Kappa Psi and Katie Mize of Alpha Delta Pi.

There has been some controversy to the blue team’s win because the president of the Inter-Fraternity Council and the president of the Pan-Hellenic Association are in Phi Kappa Psi and Alpha Delta Pi respectively. Claims that the blue team was stacked have appeared on GW’s section of the gossip site juicy campus. But none of this has quelled the excitement of the week or of the blue team’s win.

Alpha Delta Pi pledge Paula Shulman said, “Greek week got the whole community involved. It was great seeing everyone out in full force, especially the multicultural community because it’s the first year that they’ve been involved.”

-Jenn Neuner

Concert Review: Murs

LA rapper Murs was in D.C. Saturday night for a concert at the Rock N' Roll Hotel, along with openers Isaiah, Big Poo (of Little Brother) and Kidz in the Hall. 

The venue was relatively empty during Isaiah’s set (and those who missed him shouldn't be disappointed, he was mostly inappropriately angry), but steadily filled up as the evening went on. Big Poo lived up to his reputation and was hilarious. Kidz in the Hall, made up of DJ Double-O and rapper Naledge, were also very good and although strangely awkward at time, with some bizarre back and forth between them.

Murs stole the show; coming on stage he immediately started jumping everywhere and was able to keep that energy up through the show.

Murs latest album, titled Murs for President, came out last month, but he didn't just stick to the album’s songs. Instead, he performed songs from many of his albums, including highlights of his work with producer 9th Wonder. Murs' latest record is his first with a major label, Warner Brothers Records, but the show didn't feel at all as though he had "sold out" to corporate interests.

All in all, the show was quite fun. And during his set, Murs invited some of the openers on stage - a few of whom seemed more than a tad inebriated, which just added to the overall festivity of the concert.

-Ahna Olsen

Sodexo Strife

Since its arrival on campus, Sodexo – GW’s dining services contractor – has received much flak from the student body over food quality and hours of operation. But as of this week, Sodexho now has a brand new concern – a fiery D.C. workers’ union.

The Unite Here Local 25 Union is accusing Sodexo of laying off WOW Wingery employees under false pretenses and has compelled the company into legal mediations. The latest development marks the second complaint regarding the subcontracting of the Hippodrome’s Wingery to a non-union entity.

The union claims that the restaurant was never subcontracted, but rather, still under the control of Sodexo.  As evidence that the eatery is still under Sodexo’s realm, the union points to two D.C. business and liquor licenses – both still in the name of the corporation’s GW manager. 

Union leaders are seeking, among other things, the reinstatement and salary compensation of workers that were fired as a result of the supposed management change.

This is not the first beef J Street employees have had with Sodexo management. Last march, 40 workers signed a petition against the company, claiming unacceptable working conditions and verbal harassment at the hands of Sam Ramos – Sodexo’s Director of Operations at the university.

Ramos has habitually rejected interview requests by GW student media – including the Hatchet and WRGW.

- Jared Pliner

Dupont High Heels Race Turns Political

Thousands of spectators packed 17^th Street last night for the 23rd annual High Heels Race. Anticipation ran high as shrieks pierced the alcohol laden air as dozens of drag queens pranced down the stretch between Church and R streets near Dupont Circle.

The political environment just one week before the election inspired a handful of Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain look-alikes. Men dressed as Joe the Plumbers and Todd Palin also made appearances.  Cher and Princess Diana were in attendance with some others simply putting on glamorous dresses and high heels.

At least one Palin impersonator proclaimed his love for lipstick while wearing a pig snout and ears – a throwback to the controversy earlier in the political season when the real Governor Palin joked that lipstick was the only difference between her and a pit bull.

Actual politicians like D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty made appearances along with Jack Evans who is seeking reelection to represent Ward 2, which includes Foggy Bottom.

The actual race lasted a mere 1 minute 50 seconds, with those near the starting line sprinting from the gate towards the finish line. Others took their time, posed for pictures, and strut towards the end.

Voux Jyna won wearing a flesh colored body stocking and a purple boa. She reportedly won a trophy and a $50 bar tab to JR’s Bar and Grill.

 - Jesse Regis

Law & Order: GWU

First up, an individual affiliated with GW reported a theft from his car parked off-campus. Upon returning to the car, he witnessed two suspects emerging from it, and took chase when they fled. He caught one suspect, and held him until officers arrived. The individual reported a few items stolen, including a laptop and charger and a pair of sunglasses.

In other parking news, two employees of the University Parking Garage reported being threatened by an individual unaffiliated with GW. The subject reportedly claimed that he would throw urine at the employees if they did not stop bothering him while he was trying to sleep in the lower level of the parking garage. The employees called UPD, but the individual was gone by the time officers arrived.

In City Hall, a weapons policy violation was reported after a student called UPD on his friend.  He claimed during the phone call that the other student had brandished a knife at him when he knocked on the subject’s door in the middle of a disagreement. But UPD officers, after interviewing both subjects, discovered that both students agreed that the student with the knife simply had it on him, and had not in fact threatened the other student with it.  A community director was called in for an administrative search, and a folding knife was found lying on the living room table.

Our final case occurred in Thurston, where a suspicious odor was reported. The officer on patrol contacted the community director about the room. An administrative search yielded drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view, including a glass smoking pipe and grinder and less than 1 gram of marijuana residue.

- Jenn Neuner

Factions Begins

212 years after President Washington warned against the formation of political parties, they have by many accounts become a dominating force in politics. These bodies have fostered a discourse, which has often polarized the electorate. The result is Factions - WRGW’s online forum where members of the GW community will debate the issues facing the nation.

Just days until the 2008 Presidential Election, issues like the economy, healthcare, Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a variety of other issues will be debated online by five members of the George Washington College Democrats and five College Republicans. In a format inspired by the Political Arena on Politico.com, a moderator from WRGW will pose a question to the forum and designated members chosen by each organization will engage in conversation. Other people, whether they be affiliated with the CD’s or CR’s or not, are free to weigh in.

Check it out now at http://factions.wordpress.com!

-Jesse Regis

Gelman Full? Check Out the New Student Lounge.

Last week, Colonials Invasion, the infamous introduction of the basketball season, was accompanied by the opening of a new student lounge at 2145 G Street.  The space, previously a DJ’s Fastbreak, will be the new home of the spirit office as well as EMERG offices on the top floor.

The lounge features a big screen TV and couches, provided by the university, wireless internet access, desks and chairs for a quiet study area in the back, vending machines and a bathroom.  Students are encouraged to take advantage of the space after picking up lunch at the GW Deli and to make suggestions on how to improve the space to the staff.

The day after the official opening of the space on Thursday, Jeffrey Cohen, the Chair of the Department of English, sent an email to Helen Cannaday-Saulny, GW's Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Support Services to recommend that the lounge be made into a “funky noncorporate coffee [house] where students and faculty hang out together, go to poetry readings…”  As an inspiration for the space, Cohen suggests Busboys and Poets, an artsy café that has a location on 14th and V Streets where the English Department has been involved in some events.  

Other plans for the space have included a student-run business.  But in the meantime, students will probably appreciate having additional student lounge space as temperatures fall and winter approaches.

- Monika Wysocki

(Mostly) D.C. Sports Update

The Philadelphia Phillies are one game away from clinching their first World Series since 1980. The Phillies beat Tampa Bay in Game 4 at Philadelphia last night with a final score of 10-2. Philadelphia had 4 homeruns on the night, one of which came from pitcher Joe Blanton. Blanton became the first pitcher in 34 years to homer in the World Series. Game 5 will be held tonight, in Philadelphia at 8:00 pm eastern time.

The Washington Wizards finished the preseason with a loss to Cleveland. The Wizards had a final preseason record of just 2 and 5. The regular season begins on Wednesday at home against New Jersey.

Keeping with basketball, the George Washington University men and women’s basketball teams were introduced last Wednesday at the annual Colonial’s Invasion. During a shooting exercise with the men’s team, Head Coach Karl Hobbs said over the loudspeaker, “Jesus Christ, somebody make a basket.” Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come for the new season.

In hockey, the Washington Capitals snapped their losing streak on Saturday with a big overtime win against the Dallas Stars. Earlier in the week the caps fell in their road games against Calgary and Phoenix. Sergei Federov and Tomas Fleischmann each had two goals in regulation and Tyler Sloan gave the Caps a lead early in the third period. Dallas’s mike Modano tied the game at 5 all when he scored with just over a minute left on the clock. 2 minutes and 17 seconds into the sudden death overtime, Alexander Semin netted his 7^th goal of the season to win the game for Washington. Federov’s two goals brought his career total up to 475, making him the highest scoring Russian born player in NHL history. The Captials play at home tomorrow night against the Nashville predators.

Finally, the Washington Redskins beat the Detroit Lions yesterday. The final score was 25-17. Washington was statistically dominant the entire game in everything except for the score. Jason Campbell completed 23 of 28 for a season high 328 yards and a touchdown. Clinton Portis rushed for 128 yards on 24 attempts. This was the 5^th game in a row that Portis had over 120 yards on the ground. Big plays on special teams were critical for Washington as Santana Moss took a punt return 80 yards for a touchdown and kicker Shaun Suisham completed 4 field goals. The win improves the redskins’ record to 6 and 2. The next game is at home against the Pittsburg Steelers on Monday.

-Joe Lewis

Leonard Bernstein Remembered at Kennedy Center

Yesterday, Marin Alsop led the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a rare performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass at the Kennedy Center. The cast of performers was over 200 and included soloists, choirs, and a marching band.

2008 marks what would have been Bernstein’s 90^th birthday. Concert series have been held across the United States to commemorate his work as one of the most pivotal and well known American composers and conductors.

George Washington alumna Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis originally commissioned the mass for the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971.

While Bernstein’s mass was a special one time performance, the Kennedy Center is constantly hosting world class artists. Tickets for the remainder of the National Symphony Orchestra’s classical season are on sale and going fast. And don’t forget, free concerts are held every day at 6 pm on the Millennium Stage.

-Joe Lewis

Amnesty Debate Streches Campuses

Amidst the rush of last-minute get out the vote campaigns, members of the GW College Democrats and Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin got together on Monday to debate a topic which has been largely ignored by the presidential campaigns in the wake of the failing economy and the war on terror:  human rights issues, both domestically and abroad.

Choosing a New America:  Human Rights and the Presidential Election,” which was hosted by the GW chapter of Amnesty International and was moderated by GW professor and CNN special correspondent Frank Sesno, focused on a wide variety of topics, including wiretapping, Guantanamo Bay, same-sex marriage, and the genocide in Darfur.

On some issues, the students representing both presidential candidates - Senators Barack Obama and John McCain – seemed to agree for the most part.  For instance, both sides recognized their candidate’s desire to shut down Guantanamo Bay.  Allison Wagner, who represented the Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin, said that Guantanamo is a “symbol of degradation of human life.”

On other issues, the two sides were in clear opposition of one another.  On the subject of how to deal with the issue in Darfur, the students for McCain-Palin stated that their candidate believed in utilizing diplomacy before sending troops to Darfur, while Matt Ingolia, speaking for the GW Democrats, argued that “the solution will require more than just talk.”  James Jones, also of the GW Democrats, went on to add that darfurscore.com, a reputable website that grades congressmen on their stance on Darfur, gave Obama an ‘A,’ and McCain a ‘C.’

The debate, which took place in the Continental Ballroom in the Marvin Center, fostered vibrant discussion between the two major political parties, thanks in part to Sesno, who made a habit of asking follow-up questions, and allowing the debaters to pose questions to one another – tactics that were not seen frequently in the presidential debates.

- Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Van Ness-UDC

Van Ness-UDC may not be the most exciting metro stop in this series, but it does have a lot to offer – especially for all of you international affairs students.  The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this stop is embassies, embassies, embassies! 
 
Only a block or so from the metro's entrance is International Drive.  While it's not Embassy Row, International Drive is home to about 20 embassies including Austria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Israel, Jordon, Kuwait, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Singapore and the new Chinese embassy.  These embassies do hold public events, so it may be worth a trek to check them out.  Much of the architecture is extraordinary and holds true to the country's tradition.
 
A bit of a walk from the stop is the acclaimed bookstore, Politics & Prose.  If politics is your thing, this bookstore is definitely worth checking out.  They host author events almost daily.  Robert Kennedy Jr. was there earlier this week to talk about his book Robert Smalls, The Boat Thief.  
 
And you can't mention this stop without talking about UDC, the only public university in the District of Columbia.  This weekend is homecoming for UDC and they have a step show scheduled for tonight and a parade for tomorrow morning.  Ending the weekend is Jazz Alive on Monday night.  The program will feature musicians and ensembles from the university's jazz program.
 
Have a great weekend!  Next stop:  Tenlytown-AU

-Mallory Thompson

Law & Order: GWU

Up first, a theft was reported at the Lerner Health and Wellness Center. A student left his belongings in a locker, and returned to find that they were missing. A University Police sweep of lockers nearby yielded the student’s duffle bag in another locker. His wallet and cash had both been removed. Another theft in Lisner Hall: a staff member left her office unlocked and went to teach a class. She came back and found that her wallet was missing and that there were unauthorized charges on several of her credit cards.

At 1957 E Street a professor reported that he was being harassed by a non-GW student. The individual had apparently been asking repeatedly if he could audit the professor’s courses, and would not take “No” for an answer.

Ivory Tower was the scene of drug possession recently. An officer smelled marijuana on a routine patrol and called the on-call community director to the scene. In the room were 6 people, one of whom was a resident. An administrative search yielded 3.9 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, all of which were confiscated.

Another drug case, this one is Francis Scott Key. A suspicious odor led an officer to call the on-call community director who performed an administrative search of the identified room. They encountered 3 individuals in the room, two of which were residents. Among the items confiscated were 0.4 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Alcohol was also discovered and disposed of on scene.

One last drug case in Schenley Hall involving 2 individuals: a suspicious odor was reported, and the room in question was identified. A community director’s administrative search revealed that the suspicious odor was in fact a result of the 4.4 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia located in the room. All were confiscated.

- Jenn Neuner

GW Med School on Probation

After a bombshell report last week by an accrediting body placing the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences on probation, school officials appeared before the Board of Trustees on Friday to offer explanations.

Among the findings of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, it was revealed that the school failed to maintain acceptable methods of curriculum management, internal administrative processes, and failed to provide adequate study space for students. The school has a period of two years to satisfy the committee’s recommendations.

In a recent Washington Post article it was noted that of the 130 US and 17 Medical Schools the LCME oversees, GW is one of only five to receive probation since 1994 and the only school to be sanctioned as of late.

The SMHS has announced the formation of a corrective action plan to be submitted by January 2^nd. The committee is in collaboration with both the school and outside consultants in attempts to resolve the issues.

The only question remaining is why the medical school has declined to release the actual LCME report and its complete findings, which may both spur unnecessary panic and fuel concerns about the severity of the school’s violations.

- Jared Pliner

Let Basketball Season Begin!

Coming soon to a Smith Center near you…is Colonials Invasion! This Thursday, the entire GW community will come together to celebrate the official start of the basketball season.

Unlike previous years, this year’s Colonials Invasion will not have an outside performer, but rather, will have acts solely from GW students. Among the performers is the GW cheer team, Colonial Brass, the mascots, and numerous student groups. This year’s Colonials Invasion also marks the official inauguration of the new ‘George’ mascot. The old George will have a proper release through a video tribute and ceremony. Throughout the entire night, the finalist videos in GW’s ‘Show Your Spirit’ contest will be played, and the winning video will be played during all basketball home games.

Like in years past, Colonials Invasion comes with criticism, with many citing the university’s decision to hold the event at 8 pm rather than at midnight, like many other colleges. Freshman Victor Cai commented that the timing does not make sense, and the ability for other colleges to manage a midnight madness only proves that it is possible for GW.

When Colonials Invasion was originally organized to be in the evening, rather than the old midnight madness system to which GW subscribed, concerns that the crowd was drawn to the events, rather than the basketball team, were cited. Despite timing concerns, many are still willing to attend Colonials Invasion.

Colonials Invasion will be held this Thursday at 8 pm at the Smith Center.

- Zahin Hasan

Economic Crisis Causes Tuition Worries

US Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke said earlier this week that more government spending may be needed to combat economic weakness. Only a few blocks away, the economic crisis is beginning to seriously affect some GW students.

In an email advisory sent to all students and parents, Daniel E. Small, the Executive Director of Student Financial Assistance, provided information about opportunities available to prevent the existing economic conditions from adversely affecting students’ continued enrollment. Students are encouraged to keep the office informed of any significant changes to income, assets, college savings, or changes in employment. The office has waived the previously published deadline for the 2008-09 academic year to accommodate unanticipated changes. Students are also encouraged to look into the GW monthly payment plan, which allows families to make payments over a series of months rather than in one payment. Federal Stafford and Plus loans are still available. In addition, the office has an emergency loan program from which a GW student can borrow up to $600 in an interest- free loan for thirty days. Finally, for those students who are concerned about the 2009-10 academic year, the financial aid materials will be available in march 2009 and are due by April 24, 2009.

In response to the email, freshman Kelsi Browning says “I am glad that the office of financial aid is taking into account the declining economic situation and helping students that may be in need. I have a lot of loans and I want to be able to pay them.”

-Monika Wysocki

(Mostly) DC Sports Roundup

The Tampa Bay Rays are going to their first World Series after defeating the Red Sox last night in game 7 of the American League Conference Series. The final score was 3-1. This is the first playoff appearance by the Rays who were established in 1998. Tampa bay will face Philadelphia in the World Series. For the Phillies, this is their first national league pennant since 1993. They have one World Series title in 1980.

In hockey, the Washington Capitals are 3-1-1 since the beginning of the regular season. Last Monday the Caps trounced the Vancouver Canucks by a final score of 5-1. On Thursday the Capitals had their much anticipated first meeting with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Boyd Gordon’s third period goal proved to be the game winner as the Caps held on for a 4-3 road win. On Saturday, the Capitals hosted the New Jersey Devils at the Verizon Center. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation. No goals were scored in the 5 minute overtime period, which lead to the shootout. New Jersey forward Zach Parise scored the only shootout goal, giving the victory to the Devils. Washington will play the Calgary Flames tomorrow night in Alberta, Canada.

Finally, the redskins held on just long enough yesterday to defeat the Cleveland Browns with a final score of 14-11. After a scoreless first half, Clinton Portis had a 3-yard touchdown rush halfway through the third quarter for the first score of the game. In the fourth, Jason Campbell completed a pass to Santana Moss who ran half the length of the field for a 49 yard touchdown. Cleveland brought the game within 3 points after scoring a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion with 2:44 left to play. Browns kicker Phil Dawson missed what would have been a career-long 54-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play, sealing the win for Washington. The Redskins are 5-2, and will play at Detroit next Sunday.

- Joe Lewis

Colonials Weekend Draws Crowds, Laughs

This past weekend, parents came on campus from all over the country to visit their children for this year’s Colonial’s Weekend.

The three-day event, lasting from Friday to Sunday, featured many different events. On Saturday, the University offered students and their families “Classes from GW’s Best,” where different professors gave lectures on various subjects, mostly pertaining to what our next president will need to know. Subjects ranged from security, to performing arts, to the legacy of Jackie Robinson.

Also on Saturday, Associate Vice President and Dean of Freshman Fred Siegel hosted an open house at the Mount Vernon Alumnae House. Also on the Mount Vernon campus was Octoberfest, hosted by the Mount Vernon Programming Council, which included entertainment, arts and crafts, and desserts.

There were many other events as well, including Campaign GW’s tour of the campus’s twenty-year plan, a new plays festival, and dance lessons, where families got to learn various styles of dance, including waltz, salsa, and swing.

The highlight of Colonials Weekend, however, was the appearance of Robin Williams at the Smith Center. On both Friday and Saturday nights, Williams delivered a hilarious stand-up routine to two sold-out performances. His jokes, impressions, and occasional jab at the interpreter for the deaf, kept the audiences in hysterics throughout the evening. Poking fun at anything from GPS systems to the intricacies of the male and female reproductive organs, Williams’ performance was as shocking as it was funny.

But of course, as this is GW, Williams’ performances ended with an urge to go out and vote, reminding us all that, the election is drawing ever closer.

- Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Cleveland Park

Cleveland Park is a residential neighborhood in Northwest DC full of great architecture and wonderful restaurants. The neighborhood is known for its many 19^th century homes.

In the heart of Cleveland Park, you can find the National Cathedral. Explore the must-see details of the Cathedral’s dramatic art and Gothic architecture with a 30 minute guided tour Monday through Saturday from 10–11:30 am and 12:45–4 pm or 1-2:30 pm on Sundays. The recommended donation for students is $3.

While you’re in the area, next to the Cathedral is St. Alban’s all boys’ school where you can find a statue of George Washington similar to the one in Washington Circle.

Also, be sure to check out the historic art deco style Uptown Theater. It’s the biggest screen in the District - 40-feet high and about 70-feet long - with over 800 seats. It was opened by Warner Bros. on October 29, 1936. Hollywood studios occasionally have premiers here – for example, the world premier of “2001 – A Space Odyssey” was at the Uptown. First run, blockbuster mainstream movies are the mainstay. This weekend, you can see W., Oliver Stone’s biopic about the President.

Cleveland Park is also a foodies paradise. Dino is an Italian restaurant acclaimed for their wine selection. The owner is extremely knowledgeable on paring the proper wine with your meal, so ask for advice if you plan to dine here. Palena delivers delicious upscale American cuisine that the Washington Post calls, “some of the best food in town.” The food is artfully prepared by a former White House chef. While Dino and Palena probably aren’t for a student’s regular budget, 2 Amy’s is. A pizzeria that the Washington Post calls “mouthwatering,” the price of a meal is under $20. The pizza is Neapolitan-style and has a decent wine list. Also, check out the award winning “little plates.” It’s pretty popular, especially on weekends, so go early or you may have to wait for a table.

Have a great weekend! Next stop: Van Ness-UDC

- Mallory Thompson

Max Raabe Performs at Lisner

Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra came to the Lisner Auditorium on Tuesday and performed a variety of songs from their latest album.

Performing in front of a nearly packed auditorium, the orchestra showed the vigor, personality, and humor it is well known for. Their latest CD is a compilation of songs from the 20s and 30s, and has been very well received by critics. Raabe and his orchestra all originate in Germany, and the majority of the CD has German songs from that era. However, notable songs sung in English included, “Singing in the Rain,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “You’re the Cream in my Coffee,” and “I’ll Kiss Your Hand, Dear Lady.” Besides the beautifully interpreted music, Raabe also has an amazing stage presence, and is capable of eliciting both excitement from the music, and sadness from his tone. However, he also is quite the wit, and had the audience regularly cracking up throughout the performance.

An after the show interview with several of the band members revealed that what may seem like a carefree and easy performance on stage is actually quite the opposite. Baritone Saxophonist Rainier Fox says of the band, “Max is quite the perfectionist. It may seem easy on stage to perform, but it is much harder to look like its easy, act like its funny, and perform well than what we portray on stage. It takes quite a bit of practice.”

Aside from his latest CD, Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra have released covers that include such well known hits as Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” and “Oops (I Did It Again) as well as Salt and Peppa’s, “Let’s Talk About Sex”. After leaving the stage, a ten minute standing ovation brought all the twelve members back to the stage for several memorable encore performances.

-Pat Miller

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5
1.Fearless-Taylor Swift
2.Womanizer-Britney Spears
3.Live Your Life- TI featuring Rhianna
4.So What-P!nk
5.Hot N Cold-Katy Perry

Upcoming CD Releases
October 20th
AC/DC-Black Ice (Wal-Mart Exclusive)
October 21st
Ludacris-Theatre of the Mind
Matisyahu- Shattered
Of Montreal-Skeletal Landing
October 28th
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals-Cardinology
Bloc Party-Intimacy
Coolio-Steel Hear
The Cure-Dream 4.1.3
Kaiser Chiefs-Off With Their Heads
Toby Keith-That Don’t Make Me A Bad Guy
John Legend-Evolver
P!nk-Funhouse
Snow Patrol-A Hundred Million Suns

Concerts this Weekend
Friday
Sugar Hill Gang-Zanzibar
School of Rock: Tribute to Van Halen-8X10
Elton John-John Paul Jones
Robin Williams- Smith Center
Saturday
The Misfits-JAXX
Lewis Black-Patriot Center
Robin Williams- Smith Center
Sunday
TI & T-Pain- Patriot Center
An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt-Warner Theatre
Method Man and Redman-SONAR

-Taylor Barnes

Politics on Campus

With the election only weeks away, GW's campus has become a center for politics. This week saw many different visitors and events, all of a political nature, focusing predominantly on the upcoming election.

On Monday, former campaign manager for Al Gore Donna Brazile, who is now a political analyst for CNN, delivered remarks to the GW College Democrats at the Jack Morton Auditorium. Her remarks focused mainly on the upcoming election.

On Tuesday, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Class Council hosted “How Do I Become a Campaign Manager,” featuring Beth Leonard, who was the Presidential State Director for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Leonard, who is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Political Management, gave advice and anecdotes to students interested in getting involved in campaigns as a career. Her advice included networking with average people, not letting ideology get in the way when choosing who to work for and getting a dog.

Wednesday was filled with political events, including the GW mock election, which ended in a landslide victory for Obama. Other activities included a game of tug-of-war between the CD’s and CR’s, political jousting and political mocktails. Later that evening, two debate watching parties were held in the School of Media and Public Affairs - the Program Board event with the CRs and CDs in the Jack Morton Auditorium and on the third floor, a debate party for SMPA students along with faculty commentary. CNN was there to cover the event.

The political happenings on campus continue next week, when the College Republicans welcome former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom at 8pm.

Special Report: GW Crime Alerts

A recent Crime Alert reported eight sexual assaults at GW.  Some of these incidents did not in fact occur on campus, but were reported to someone on campus that is considered to be a reporting entity by the Federal Government. These campus administrators are required to report cases such as these to UPD.

The cases that occurred on campus took place at International House on the Foggy Bottom campus and Hensley Hall on the Mount Vernon campus. The incident at I House was an acquaintance sexual assault that occurred between two non-GW affiliated individuals who were visiting friends at GW when the incident occurred. The case occurred on September 15th and has been closed and referred to Metro Police for investigation. The Hensley Hall case involved a sexual assault between two GW students who were acquaintances. The case occurred on September 26th and has been closed.

The Foggy Bottom Grocery Store located on the 2100 block of F Street was robbed at gunpoint this past Friday, October 10th at approximately 1 PM. Staff reported that the subject entered the store and produced a handgun and demanded money. He fled soon after. The subject is described as a black male, six feet tall with a slim build. He was wearing a bandana over his face during the robbery. If you have any information, please contact Detective Andy Way from the Second District Detective Office (that’s Metro Police) at 202-730-1903.

-Jenn Nuener

Law & Order: GWU

First up a community director’s administrative search of a room in New Hall yielded several "weapons" recently. Among the discoveries were two air guns, fake plastic rifle bullets, and a toy cap gun that apparently looked very realistic. All items were confiscated.

On Townhouse Row, a female GW student was EmERGed after her friend called UPD. The officers discovered the subject unresponsive but breathing when they arrived on scene. Both EmERG and Advanced Life Support arrived on scene to bring her to GWER. A student from Thurston was also EmERGed with ALS after a friend called to report that he was highly intoxicated and vomiting everywhere. He was also transported to GWER.

A routine patrol of a hall in Potomac nearly resulted in a drug bust. The community director was notified of a smell of marijuana detected while an officer was on patrol. An administrative search yielded no residents currently in the room in question, but it was evident that someone had been smoking marijuana in the room.

Ivory Tower was the scene of an actual drug bust after UPD responded to a report of marijuana being smoked in a car in the garage. Upon arriving on scene officers encountered two male students and one female student smoking in a vehicle; the students readily admitted to smoking. Marijuana and other paraphernalia in the vehicle were confiscated.

-Jenn Nuener

Islamo-Fascism Week Returns

This week, the George Washington University chapter of the Young America's Foundation joins several student organizations from college campuses across the country to participate in Islamo-Facism Awareness week.

According to the event press release from Travis Korson, GW YAF's Director of Press, the goal of the week is to "spread awarness and tolerance and education students and professors about the difference between the vast majority of Muslims who practice moderate and peaceful Islam and those who have radicalized and perverted their religious texts and used them to justify political violence."

Last year, the event was hugely controversial on campus, after fliers appeared with the slogan, "Hate Muslims? So Do We!" citing YAF as the group responsible.  The posters were hung around campus by student unaffiliated the with organization to protest the event.  The stunt made headlines in media organizations nationwide.  YAF responded with two full page ads in the Hatchet entitled, "A Forgery and a Hate Crime," and "Stop Profiling Conservative Students."

This week began with a screening of Islam v. the Islamists, a film about the struggle of moderate Muslims in America.  Wednesday, representatives from the YAF chapter asked individuals to sign a petition denouncing radical activities including religious Hadith sections.  The event schedule concluded with a keynote address by Nonie Darwish last night in the Jack Morton Auditorium.

The speaker is a former lieutenant int he Egyptian Army, who founded the Feayeen, a group that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israelis during his term.  After she immigrated to the United States in 1979 and converted to Christianity, she became active against extremism and became an author.  Travis Korson, the Director of Press for YAF said, "We are excited to bring Darwish as she will offer a unique and firsthand perspective into the radical perversion of the holy Islamic documents.  She will also be highlighting the detrimental effects for the people who do adhere to this perversion of the books."

-Monika Wysocki

Bob Costas On the Kalb Report

Bob Costas was at the National Press Club on Monday as the guest on “The Kalb Report”. Costas is a familiar face to those who have watched the last five Summer Olympics and for baseball fans around the country. He is an award-winning sportscaster with 19 Emmys and eight “National Sportscaster of the Year”.

Much of the interview was spent on America’s past time and Costas’s favorite sport, baseball. Costas grew up in New York during an exciting time for baseball - when Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees.

Costas believes that although baseball has become more popular, the connection between the fans and the players has diminished. Line-ups change frequently and therefore it is difficult to become attached to a player. Pitching has dramatically changed over the years as well; pitchers used to throw complete games all the time, but now a coach is satisfied if he gets 6 or 7 innings out of his pitcher.

Another major change in baseball is the amount of money in the game. Costas always favors the rights of the players and does not mind that they earn millions of dollars a year.

The Olympics have also played a crucial role in Costas’s career. Costas was happy with NBC’s coverage of the Bejing games, but would have liked NBC to do more coverage on the social, economic, and political issues in China. While in China, Costas did not only focus on the sports events, but was able to cover various stories beyond the sports world.

-Roxanne Martin

DC Sports Update

The Washington Wizards are 1-2 after 3 preseason games. The wizards lost to Dallas and Detroit but were able to pick up a win in Memphis. The regular seasons begins on October 29^th when the wizards will host the New Jersey Nets at the Verizon Center.

The Washington Capitals are 1-1 after the regular season began last Friday. The Caps fell in the season opener to Atlanta by a score of 7-4. But, redemption was quick for the Caps. Saturday, the Capitals had their home opener against Chicago and won with a final score of 4-2. New goaltender Jose Theodore looked shaky for the second night in a row as he allowed two questionable scores in the first period, one within the first 26 seconds of the game. However, those would be the only goals by Chicago for the night. The caps scored 4 unanswered goals to get their first win of the season. The capitals will play the Vancouver Canucks tonight at home, starting at 7 pm.

And last, despite being heavily favored for the win, the Redskins lost at home to the St. Louis Rams yesterday. The final score was 19-17. Rams kicker Josh Brown scored a 49 yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to win the game. It was the first win of the year for St. Louis. The Redskins fall to 4-2.

-Joe Lewis

Starbucks Water Woes

Is your Venti Mocha killing people in Africa?  Well, not exactly, but The Sun reports that the water wasted daily by the coffee giant would suffice the needs of two-million African people every day.

The U.K. based newspaper revealed that the coffee franchise has a policy of keeping a water tap running non-stop at each of its 10,000 worldwide locations. That amounts to 23.4 million liters or 6,181,626 gallons of water wasted each day. The paper claims this is equal to the daily water requirements for the entire country of Namibia, or enough to fill an Olympic sized pool every 83 minutes.

Starbucks management claims that by running the taps constantly there is a reducing chance of germs breeding in the pipes. Many experts have dismissed the germ claims, calling them “nonsense.”

Environmental groups have also chimed in by highlighting the scarcity of water, and the droughts in many parts of the world that has been the cause of an untold number of deaths.

And how about the Gelman Library Starbucks, 1957 E location, and those nearby 22nd and K location? At every one the tap to the “dipper well”, where spoons and utensils are washed, has a constantly running tap.

-Jesse Regis

Metro Stop of the Week: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan

Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan is a metro stop bursting with things perfect for college students to do.  The area is much more neighborhood-like, but still offers great restaurants and shops to explore.

Woodley Park is mostly residential, but its home to two of the biggest hotels in DC – the Omni Shoreham and the Sheraton-Washington.  If you’re planning to attend GW’s Inaugural Ball in January, it will be held at the Omni.  Also, Woodley Park boasts an eclectic selection of international restaurants – all in a one block period!

As for the zoo, despite the metro stop’s name, I wouldn’t recommend using this stop.  The trek is all uphill, so it’s a much easier walk from the Cleveland Park stop.

But where are most people who get off at this stop going?  Adams Morgan.  This neighborhood is an explosion of cultural diversity and eccentric nightlife that’s extremely popular with college students and young professionals.  From the metro, you’ll have a bit of a walk – but it’s definitely worth it.  The Diner is an Adams Morgan favorite – it’s an upscale diner that’s open 24 hours a day.  Catch live bluegrass on Wednesday nights at Madam’s Organ or swing by Habana Village to show off your salsa moves (or take a free lesson). On Saturdays, check out arts and crafts by local artists at Western Market.  Also, Adams Morgan is home to Fleet Feet, the specialty shoe store owned by Mayor Fenty’s family.  And Adams Morgan is  home to a variety of festivals – from Adams Morgan day, to my favorite DC arts festival, Crafty Bastards.  It’s definitely worth your while.

Have a great weekend!  Next stop: Cleveland Park.

-Mallory Thompson

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5
1.    Womanizer-Britney Spears
2.    Live Your Life- TI featuring Rhianna
3.    So What-P!nk
4.    Let it Rock-Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne
5.    Hot N Cold-Katy Perry

New CD Releases
Tuesday October 14th
Ashanti- The Vault
Boo and Boo Too-No Tiempo
Jo Dee Messina- Unmistakeable
Keane-Perfect Symmetry
Lucinda Williams-Little Honey

Concerts
Thursday
Of Montreal-930
Halloween Fearfest-Merriweather
Friday
Odd Girl Out- SONAR
Martin Sexton-Birchmere
Girl Talk-9:30
Saturday
Lupe Fiasco-Loyola
Girl Talk-Sonar
Shwazye-Santa Fe Café College Park
Ra Ra Riot- Black Cat
Sunday
Glactic-930 Club
Rise Against with Alkaline Trio and Thrice- Rames Head Live!
The Australian Pink Flyod Show-Warner Theatre

-Taylor Barnes

Movie Review: The Express

Yesterday was the advanced screening of the movie, The Express, starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown.  Full of trials and hardships, The Express is a true story based on Ernie Davis's (Rob Brown) experience playing for Syracuse University's football team under the leadership of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid).  Ernie is the first black football player to win the Heisman Award, but it was not an easy journey.  The movie shows all the obstacles Davis had to endure being a black athlete in a segregated society.

The Express had all the elements of a sports movie; an underdog team fighting to the top, an athlete with an abnormal amount of talent and a coach with a tough exterior, but is really a sweetheart.  The film does a good job of integrating the racial issues on the football field and in society as a whole.  The football scenes were full of excitement, but were careful to not be overdone.  And if you're not a sports fan - don't worry - you will still find this movie interesting due to its lovable characters and dramatic plot.

Although the film had action, comedy and romance, it seemed a little lengthy.  With the move running just over two hours, it would have been just as effective if it had been shorter.

Overall it was a good sports film and will have you engaged the entire time.  The Express comes to theaters this Friday, October 10th.

- Roxanne Martin

Law & Order: GWU

First up the 7 Eleven underneath Mitchell Hall reported a theft last week. The suspect was gone when officers arrived, but they found him soon after as a result of the description given. The subject had no affiliation with GW and no charges will be filed.

A female student was taken to GWER by EmERG from the lobby of Thurston after officers suspected that she was intoxicated. The student also became disorderly with EmERG and hospital staff upon her arrival at the hospital.  Another student, this one male, was taken from Thurston for severe intoxication. He was falling in and out of consciousness, and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Thurston was also the scene of a couple of thefts recently.  A male resident and 2 other residents signed 5 other students into Thurston, and then went to the male resident’s room. 1 of the invited students left the room soon after, reportedly with the wallet of the male resident. After the case was reported, a witness recognized the suspect and identified him. Another complainant, this one female, reported that her purse was stolen at this same event. A suspect has not yet been identified. These investigations are ongoing.

And now a special report on two recent cases of suspicious packages. The first occurred on September 16th in Old Main. A faculty member had left his office and returned to find that a suitcase had been placed in it. Police were notified, and they performed a sweep and interviewed individuals in the building. Another faculty member stated that she had allowed someone to place the suitcase in the office for safekeeping.
The other suspicious package report occurred on Friday September 26th. Another suitcase was left by in the Academic Center. The building was evacuated as a result of the officers’ concerns for the security of the package. Soon after, an individual came forward and indicated that she was a visitor to a GW student. She said that she had left her suitcase in the Academic Center, and that this could be the offending luggage. A description proved beyond a doubt that the suitcase was hers; it was returned to the individual, and the Academic Center was reopened.

- Jenn Neuner

GW Gets Institute of Solar Energy

Last Friday, George Washington University announced the establishment of an institute for the analysis of solar energy within the College of Arts and Sciences.

According to the GW News Center, the Institute will "employ a multi-disciplinary approach to conducting research on the economic, technical and public policy issues associated with developing and deploying solar power." International solar expert Ken Zweibel will lead the institute, along with experts from university departments and schools, in developing objective analysis for policy makers on how solar energy can help address the challenges of global energy supply and climate change.

During his renowned career, Zweibel has developed solar technology for low-cost electricity at the U.S. Department of Energy's national renewable energy lab in Colorado. He also co-founded a solar power manufacturing company.

Solar energy is a big business, especially since congress, in its recently passed bailout package, included renewable energy tax credits, which are seen by many economists as a critical step towards bringing the U.S. closer to becoming a progressive leader in the rewnewable energy industry.

Zweibel, however, has become more intrested in "informing people of the possibilities and solutions to global energy and environmental problems," according to the press release.

In an open letter to the faculty of GW, Zweibel announced that the institute has $400,000 of funding available for scholarly activities at GW. The Institute itself is funded by a combination of private, corporate and foundation funds.

-Monika Wysocki

DC Sports Round Up

The Washington Wizards will have their first preseason game in Dallas tomorrow night.  The game will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Net at 8:30pm, eastern time.

In hockey, the Washington Capitols lost their final preseason game last night at home against Boston in the Verizon Center. The game was tied at 4 all when regulation play ended. A scoreless overtime period led to a shootout where goals by Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins secured the victory for Boston. The Capitols ended the preseason with a final record of 5-1-1, their best performance since 1999. The official NHL season began overseas this past weekend. The New York Rangers played a two game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague. The Caps will have their first regular season game on Friday in Atlanta.

The Redskins had a dominant performance on Sunday as they beat Philidelphia, 23-17. Runningback Clinton Portis rushed for 145 yards and scored the go ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter. He later converted a crucial 4th down, with 2:39 left in the game. Philidelphia had used all of their timeouts and the Redskins were able to run out the clock from there. The Skins are now 4-1.

-Joe Lewis

Environmental Sustainability Hits Campus

Earlier today, the George Washington University held a symposium on urban sustainability and how Washington D.C. can lead the way.

The symposium - which ran from 8am until 2pm in Jack Morton Auditorium - featured prominent D.C. government officials and councilmembers, leaders of business and non-profit organizations and members of the GW community.

The goal of the symposium was to facilitate discussion in regards to the best practices the city could adopt to help become more energy-efficient. The discussion included several city and university leaders, including George Hawkins, Director of the D.C. Department of Environment, D.C. Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso and GW President Steven Knapp. They discussed a wide variety of topics, including green jobs, development and education, all in terms of how to make the city more sustainable.

The symposium was followed by a luncheon at the Marvin Center which featured opening remarks by Chairman of the D.C. Council, Vincent Gray, and a discussion moderated by Steve Moore, the President and CEO of the Washington D.C. Economic Partnership.

The symposium follows news that the Sierra Club Magazine had named GW one of the five colleges that have failed to sufficiently invest in fighting the climate crisis. The other schools to make the list were the College of William and Mary, Howard University, Texas Tech University and Valdosta State University.

-Alex Laska

Metro Stop of the Week: Dupont

To start off this feature, we’ll start with a stop close to home, Dupont Circle. The neighborhood is known for its boutiques, bookstores, galleries, embassies, nightlife, activist groups and nonprofit organizations. The circle itself attracts many street performers no matter what hour of the day or night. Whether you choose the north exit or the south exit, there’s definitely a lot to see.

On the North side, there are countless artsy shops and cafes to visit. A must-go is Krammerbooks and Afterwords – from their desserts and brunches, to their late night hours on the weekends, Kramers is a perfect hangout for college students. While it may be a little pricy, you won’t be disappointed. The café is also a bookstore and has a wide selection, with a terrific travel section.

Also, the North side of Dupont boasts the Phillips Collection, an art museum that’s noted for its impressionist and post impressionist works – especially Renior’s Luncheon of the Boating Party and works by Van Gogh, Monet and Degas. Admission is $8 on Saturdays and Sundays, and free Tuesday through Fridays. On Sundays before 1, it’s worth a trip to the Dupont market. Stands with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and flowers fill the streets.

For the south side, Cosi is fun. It takes GWorld and this location offers Cosi’s famous s’mores – a great way to spend a fall evening! The south side also offers great bars – from Buffalo Billiards, a sports bar, to the Front Page, for great happy hour specials, and the exclusive Eighteenth Street Lounge, known for its DJs and its association with the duo, Thievery Corporation.

Enjoy the weekend – Next stop is Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan!

- Mallory Thompson

Biden vs. Palin

Thunderous applause rang out across the Marvin Center Thursday night at Vice Presidential candidates Joeseph Biden and Sarah Palin took to the stage at Washington University for the only Vice Presidential debate this election.

Hosted by the GW Program Board, College Republicans and College Democrats alike gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center to watch the debate together.

Going into the debate, both organizations had high hopes for their candidates. Alicia Froio, Freshman Representative for the College Democrats, said she thought Biden would do "a heck of a lot better" than Palin. On the other side, Conor Rogers, Freshmen Representative for the College Republicans, asserted that Palin "will do very well," and that when se gets to speak freely, the polls bounce for McCain.

Notably, the ballroom was divided up into two sections - the College Democrats on the left side and the College Republicans on the right, with a large aisle separating the two. As the debate progressed, it became very clear as to why the two groups were seated in separate sections.

Several times throughout the night, an accusation made by one of the two candidates would send one of the groups into bouts of applause in favor of their candidate. At one point, when Biden accused current Vice President Dick Cheney of being "very dangerous," the College Democrats cheered fro several moments. Palin's assertion that she does not support gay marriage was welcomed with equally loud applause from the College Republicans.

Next Tuesday, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will meet for their second of three pre-election debates in Nashville, Tennessee.

-Alex Laska

Law & Order: GWU

First up, a report of unlawfully possessed alcohol in JBKO. UPD came to the room based on suspicion of underage drinking. Upon entering the room alcohol was seen in plain view. Of the 10 students present all were subjected to sobriety tests, resulting in one student being sent to GWER. This same student was charged with disorderly conduct after being verbally abusive to officers and refusing to listen to commands. He was placed in protective custody and transported to GWER, where he became disorderly and disruptive to staff as well. He was then taken to MPD’s 2nd District for processing.

One of the 4-RIDE van drivers reported that a student passenger was intoxicated. He dropped the student off in front of Thurston and proceeded to watch him throw up in a trashcan. UPD arrived and performed a sobriety test, but the student was found to be in no immediate danger. He was released on scene.

A liquor law violation was called in from Foggy Bottom Grocery, concerning a partially nude male. UPD encountered the subject at the Smith Center, wearing shorts and shoes but no shirt. He was identified as a GW student. When questioned, he denied that he had been drinking, and stated that he was having a reaction to a medication. But a failed sobriety test sent him to GWER via EMeRG.

Our first story occurring in Thurston is a report of disorderly conduct after a student was unable to swipe her GWorld. She had difficulty walking, and thus no sobriety test was performed. The student did however become disorderly on transport to GWER, being transported by EMeRG.

Also in Thurston, a case of simple assault was reported by a male GW student. He claimed that 2 other residents of Thurston came to his room after an argument, and a shoving match ensued. The complainant stated that he was punched in the chest. He is not filing criminal charges, and the case has been handed over to SJS.

And our last case for tonight is a sex act caught in progress. 2 GW students were found to be engaging in a consensual sexual act at Kogan Plaza. Both were subjected to sobriety tests, and thereafter sent on their way.

- Jenn Neuner

Metro Vote Goes to the Floor

A transportation package is expected to pass the U.S. Senate today, a move that could bring as much as $1.5 billion dollars to the D.C. Metro system. This money is dedicated funding and a part of a plan to improve the safety and efficiency of both the D.C. Metro and the country's aging transportation system.

The bill has become a politically sensitive issue in recent weeks following the deaths of 25 and injury of 130 others in a Los Angeles train accident.

If the bill passes through the senate, D.C. Maryland, and Virginia will have 10 years to produce $1.5 billion in matching funds.

According to the Washington Post, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine said that his state has the resources to match the funds, telling the news outlet that "The top priority is spend our state's transportation dollars on anything where there's a federal match." Kaine continued to say that "So as soon as this thing passes, the Metro funding jumps to the top priority."

No word yet on whether D.C. or Maryland has a plan in place to match the funding.

Even if the bill passes and the funds matched, the funding may not be enough. According to the Post the Metro General Manager John Catoe announced that Metro needs $11.3 billion dollars between the years 2010 and 2020 to provide increased service, while maintaining safety.

-Jesse Regis

The O'Reilly Factor Meets The Kalb Report

In front of a live audience, Bill O'Reilly joined Marvin Kalb for the first Kalb Report of the school year. The event was held at the National Press Club. The interview began lightheartedly - Kalb explained how he was O'Reilly's professor at Harvard University and is frequently asked why he didn't flunk him. Kalb was sure to remind O'Reilly that he was now on his show. The whole interview was full of joking around with Kalb and O'Reilly frequently poking fun at each other.

The first hour was spent dicussing O'Reilly's life and experiences in broadcast journalism. When asked what it means to be a good journalist, O'Reilly stated that he or she must be honest and diligent. They must put effort into finding out the truth about a situation. While he is a controversial figure, he told the audience that he has never had to retract a story nor has he ever lost a lawsuit. O'Reilly said that a good journalist has to be "smart enough to know when someone is playing you."

On networks, O'Reilly went into attack mode. He believes that MSNBC decided to go left because they wanted fo follow in FOX's footsteps and make money. O'Reilly and Kalb argued over CBS and whether it should be considered liberal as well. O'Reilly was a former employee of ABC and CBS, but only made it big when he joined the FOX news team.

After the hour-long taped program ended, O'Reilly and Kalb contined their discussion for the audience, mostly on current issues. Whe asked about abortion, O'Reilly admitted that it is a private decision, but does believe the "potential person" should have rights. He explained that he doesn't really care about gay marraige, but he does believe gay couples should be allowed to adopt. On the presidential debate, O'Reilly thought that on most issues it was fairly even, but that McCain had won. He didn't offer much advice on Sarah Palin because he hasn't interviewed her, but he hopes that she will join him on "The O'Reilly Factor" soon.

- Roxanne Martin