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