BREAKING NEWS: GW Students Safely Out of Egypt

In a statement released early Monday evening, GW officials said that five GW students studying abroad in Egypt for the spring semester have arrived safely in Athens. Others are currently en route to various locations in Europe.

Cairo and other Egyptian cities have been in a state of chaos for the past week, when large-scale protests against police brutality, lack of free elections and free speech, and other political and legal issues were first organized by the April 6th Youth Movement. Since then the movement has grown considerably, with more than 250,000 Egyptians currently rallying in downtown Cairo according to Al Jazeera. Multiple fatalities have been reported since last week.

A curfew is currently in affect in Cairo from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m., making flight arrangements difficult. According to the university's press statement, GW students who are still in Cairo have flight information and transportation arrangements to the airport.

The university has vowed to work with the students misplaced by Egypt's unrest to arrange alternative study abroad options for the rest of the semester.

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."