The Smithsonian Video Controversy

Last week the Smithsonian Institution removed David Wojnarowicz's video titled "Fire in My Belly" from a privately funded exhibit entitled Hide/Seek at the National Portrait Gallery. The video can be viewed online at YouTube but is only open to those who have an account they can sign into on the site.

The video begins with a crucifix with the figure of Jesus on it lying on the ground and covered with crawling ants. A beginning that upset the Catholic League, a group which does not receive funding from the Catholic Church. The video also contains other potentially disturbing images such as a representation of a mouth being sewn shut. The image of the ant-covered Christ appears periodically throughout the clip. The video, which was posted to YouTube in 2007, but has recently been receiving many views and comments, was created in 1987 while Mr. Wohnarowicz was dying of AIDS. John Boehner, the incoming House Speaker who is from Ohio, speaking through a representative, requested that the Smithsonian remove the video from the exhbit. The Smithsonian may have felt threatened by a cut to funding if they failed to comply due to his wording which included the phrase "be prepared to face tough scrutiny. The rest of the video will remain up until February 13th, as previously planned.

The Sixth Annual World AIDS Day

Yesterday was World AIDS Day, an event designed to raise awareness about disease and those who suffer from it. Events were held all around the world, including South Africa, New York and right here in Washington D.C. There is even an event being held tonight in Ronald Reagan Building called "HIV Universal Access and Human Rights" it began at 5:30pm and is only open to Global Health Council members.

Of course, work to help those with HIV/AIDS continues throughout the year and during this World AIDS Day the Global Health Council highlighted the importance of fighting tuberculosis as well. Many AIDS patients are contract TB and they are very vulnerable to it. TB is often the disease that kills the patient after AIDS has weakened their immune system. This year's UNAIDS Report on The Global AIDS epidemic included a special section dedicated to documenting the relationship between HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Student Response to Bed Bugs

The GW student body response to the, first rumors and now confirmed cases of bed bugs in the university's dorms has been varied. Despite the recent cases of dorm rooms with bed bug problems GW senior Molly Eames, who lives in South Hall, does not seem particularly concerned. "I don't really have any thoughts on bed bugs," she responded to questions. However, she did go on to say that she had read about the issue in the Hatchet.

Others have expressed more concern, even as far back as three weeks ago, before the October 31st Jon Stewart-lead "Rally to Restore Sanity." One GW student was overheard citing bed bugs being brought in by New Yorkers as one reason he would not be attending the event.

Before declining to say more an American Pest Control representative who was contacted stated that the call about bed bugs is "one that [they] field all the time every day," and that there is an "increased awareness of them [bed bugs] but also more cases."

While there are undoubtedly cases of bed bugs, most students spoken to for this article shared Molly Eames' relative unconcern. Joe Pacheco, a sophomore who lives in Munson said he has heard that bed bugs are not very harmful, just irritating. He did, however, express annoyance with the university for the existence of the bed bugs at dorms here in the first place: "I think they should really do a better job of making sure our dorms are pest free."

Sarah Vowell at Lisner Tomorrow Night

The writer and frequent NPR contributor Sarah Vowell will be performing at GW's Lisner auditorium Saturday night at 8pm. There are still tickets available for her reading, which will include a question and answer period at the end and a book-signing in the lobby after that.

Vowell's work includes the bestselling books The Wordy Shipmates and Assassination Vacation. On NPR she mostly contributes to This American Life, much like author David Sedaris, with whom she shares a comedic and sharp observational style.

Tickets to this and other Lisner auditorium shows have been on sale for months, many since before the beginning of the school year. So far only very big-name draws, such as David Sedaris, have managed to sell out beforehand.

Vowell has a new book coming out in spring of next year that is reportedly titled Unfamiliar Fishes. The Lisner Auditorium website reported at first that she would be reading essays from that work, but have since issued a correction explaining that she does not plan to read from this unpublished material.

WRGW News Midterm Election Polls

On November 2^nd millions of Americans will go to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2010 Midterm Elections. For students here at the George Washington University, however, many have and will be mailing out absentee ballots. Over the course of the week beginning Sunday October 24^th, WRGW News conducted an unscientific poll of students here on campus, tabulating their opinions and how they will be voting in the upcoming election.

The surveys were dispersed among all undergraduate students, 169 in total, and of those students, 51 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 15 percent consider themselves Republicans, while 34 percent are independent, nonaligned, or none-of-the-above.

Much has been made recently about an enthusiasm gap among Democrats and Republicans. Our polling shows that 80 percent of Republicans will be voting, with the Democrats trail five points behind at 75 percent. Interestingly, only 60 percent of Independent voters will be casting ballots.

Party loyalty remains strong; 98 percent of Democrats will be casting a ballot for their party, while 95 percent of Republicans will remain loyal too.

The most telling results, however, comes from the Independent voters. While, Democrats have a modest lead, yielding 35 percent of Independent support to 27 percent for the Republican Party, 38 percent of support will go to a third party candidate.

Polling was conducted October 24-28. Of the 169 students polled, there were 51 freshman, 53 sophomores, 37 juniors, and 28 seniors. This poll was conducted by WRGW News associates Jeff Jacobson and Michael Fische, with assistance from WRGW News associate Ahna Olson, and GW Mitchell Hall resident Erika Grohoski.

Georgetown Hosts a Music Summit

The Future of Music Policy Summit is currently taking place at Georgetown University. The three-day event started Sunday and goes through Tuesday October 5th. The summit includes presentations from artists and others in the music business, such as Damian Kulash, the front man of OK Go, and Tim Westergren of Pandora.Facebook, Google and YouTube Music will also be sending representatives.

Tonight, there will be all-ages benefit concert at the Black Cat night club on 14th Street. Damian Kulash, Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy, and Jonny 5 of Flobots will perform, among others.

Students may register for the entire conference here: http://futureofmusic.org/events/future-music-policy-summit-2010. The price is 20 dollars. This could be a great opportunity for GW students thinking of trying to make their way in the music market when, or even before, they graduate.

The Washington Redskins win at Philly

Three games into their season and the Washington Redskins have two wins and two losses. They won today against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In other football news, the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions 28-26, squeaking by in the first game after their loss to the Chicago Bears during which they got called for 23 penalties. The Redskins and Packers will be facing each other next Sunday, October 10 at Fedex Field, the Redskins home turf.