A Guide to Spending Thanksgiving in the District

Spending Thanksgiving in Washington? Here are some events going on in the city that you don't want to miss...

MOUNT VERNON BY CANDLELIGHT

Tour the candle-lit home of George Washington and learn about his holiday traditions. Interact with 18th century costume actors, including Mrs. Washington who will hand out her holiday cooking recipes. Sample fresh homemade chocolate prepared over the open fire during the Christmas caroling and the hot apple cider with fresh baked cookies given when you leave. Tours are Friday to Sunday from 5:00-8:30, tickets are $20.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART EXHIBITION

Sixty rare color prints and hand-colored variations by the renowned Edvard Munch are on special display at the National Gallery of Art in an exhibit titled "Master Prints." Admission is free.

JOFFREY BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER

A Kennedy Center tradition, this annual performance conceived and directed by Robert Joffrey is set to Tchaikozsky's famous score. Tickets are $29-$150.

Links For Life Luncheon Series

This past Tuesday afternoon, undergraduate students from the Business School put on their best suits to attend a luncheon with alumni. Hosted by the GWSB Alumni office, the Links for Life Luncheon series is an event that takes place once a semester for students to get a taste of the work world, utilizing the skills they have learned in the classroom such as the 30-second "elevator speech," business function etiquette, and networking.

"The luncheon is a great event for our students and alumni to connect over informal conversation," said Leah Kuppersmith, Associate Director of School Alumni Programs for the Business School. "It gives students an opportunity to get insight into a career they might be interested in pursuing and it is an opportunity for alumni to hear about what's happening in the school today."

Many of the students that attended the event had been to a luncheon last year or had heard great things from their classmates. "It is a great opportunity for networking," said Christine Healy, sophomore in the business school. "These sort of events open up my eyes to different concentrations within the business school"

Students must pre-register for the event and indicate their field of interest, students are then seated at a table that is hosted by an alumnus in that field of business. Many students keep in contact with the alumni long after the luncheon is over, keeping in touch through e-mail and other alumni events.

"I really enjoy being a mentor for business students because I know it can be scary being an undergraduate student and not knowing what to expect when you graduate," said Lauren Rurak (BBA '07), account manager at the Borenstein group, a marketing firm that is located in Reston, Va. "I didn't take full advantage of the resources offered when I was here, but the business school had prepared me through out my four years when it came to thinking about the future, resume writing and my job search. I really want to give back to the school that has helped me to get to where I am today."

For more information on working with GW Alumni, go to alumni.gwu.edu or join the LinkedIn alumni group.

First Annual Business Conference a Success

This past Saturday, the business school was bustling with leaders from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Delloite for GW Women in Business' first Spring Conference. Over 100 students, faculty, alumni, and friends from the GW community attended the event.

The daylong conference opened with a presentation by Dr. Eliane Karp-Toledo, former first lady of Peru and anthropologist. The program included panel discussions led by twenty executives from both corporate and government sectors. The topics discussed were entrepreneurship, international business, business government relations and corporate social responsibility, which provided a comprehensive and insightful exchange of workplace dynamics.

The day concluded on a high note with an energetic presentation by Chad Holliday, former chairman and CEO of DuPont, who encouraged students to continue to broaden their knowledge of the business world by attending conferences, being a leader by bringing out the best in people and maintaining ethics when doing business in other countries.

The day was sponsored by corporations such as Coca-Cola, TD Securities, Deloitte and Bloomberg. All of the conference attendees received Juan Valdez coffee, gift certificates for FoBoGro, Vineyard Vines and Aveda Spa, clothes from BCBG and food from SweetGreen.

The idea for the event stemmed from Harvard’s annual business conference, with top professionals and university faculty meeting with students and providing learning and networking opportunities for students from all majors.

“Today's GW Women in Business conference successfully bridged the gap between classroom lessons and real world experiences,” said Kathleen Duffy, associate director of undergraduate career management. GWWIB is working hard to make this an annual event across campus and to make it bigger and better every year.

Besty Smith, executive coordinator of GWSB undergraduate programs and previous member of GWWIB, was incredibly proud of the young women that organized the day’s event. “GWWIB has been a pioneer amongst GWSB student groups since its inception, and the School of Business eagerly awaits whatever they plan to tackle next year!” said Smith.

For more information on GW Women in Business, go to http://www.gwwib.org/

Joshua King and "Polioptics: Packaged Political Persuasion"

“Chicken or Egg?”

This was the question Joshua King asked of his audience Tuesday night in the Marvin Center Amphitheater as he concluded his presentation entitled “Polioptics: Packaged Political Persuasion.” The event, sponsored by the School of Media and Public Affairs, the Graduate School of Political Management, and the GW College Democrats, focused on King’s experience as a former aide to the Clinton administration. He designed the way in which the president was viewed by the public in any and all realms, from public to private. His presentation touched on how recent presidents, i.e. from Reagan to Obama, and their imagery affect culture and vice versa.

Thus the question: Chicken or Egg? Is it an American obsession with marketing that has changed our culture, or has culture changed how we market aspects of society as important as our government officials? King’s career provided him with an insider perspective of this phenomenon, orchestrating how Clinton was presented to the world. His presentation was filled with literal architectural sketches of presidential events, rallies, meetings with foreign dignitaries, and everything in between. These events were all put together with the knowledge that image can make or break a story - and history.

King showed images and recounted tales of gaffes and epic moments in the past 29 years, from Reagan's walk with Nancy through a cemetery in Normandy to Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” sign declaring the end of combat in Iraq. He brought laughter to the room with anecdotes and images of the past and present, including a screen capture of Obama’s purported "evil eye" from the Drudge Report.

Imagery of the president today means something entirely different from King’s tenure, a point he himself admitted. Mostly, he said, technology has changed our ability to get information and images of the President. But our desire for information on any and all aspects of the President’s life has kept the business of political persuasion afloat.

Now, we can view hundreds of photos of the president throughout his day almost immediately after they’re taken via the Internet. Political imagery today is less packaged than King’s time. Today, the best images are lucky images captured with the simple fortune of being in the right place in the right time. It is these images that ultimately define presidential history.

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

Fall Fest Lacks Crowds, Big Act

Hurricane Hanna dampened Saturday's Fall Fest plans this past Saturday.  The Program Board event was moved to the Smith Center after wind and rain made it impossible to host the event in University Yard.

Canon Logic and the Virginia Coalition played back-to-back around 5:30 in the afternoon to a small crowd of around 50 students.  Wale didn't fare much better, drawing a little over 100 students to the Smith Center for his performance.

Despite the small crowd, some students embraced the lineup, joining arms, swinging from side to side, and singing along to one of Virginia Coalition's songs.

Lead singer of the Coalition, Andrew Poliakoff, said that he and his band were excited to be at the university and that the energy of the crowd more than made up for the small size.

The fair also featured local vendors like DC Snacks, free food, giveaways and performances by students.

Popular band Rooney and DJ Girl Talk, were slated to headline Fall Fest, but both were unable to do so as a result of booking problems.

Tiffany Meehan, chair of Program Board, spent countless hours coordinating last Saturday's event.  She didn't think the lost of Girl Talk affected attendance and said an estimated 1,200 students had come through the doors as of 4:30 that afternoon.

But, GW student Erica Bibbly, who attended the event, said she wished the line-up had been better advertised.  Little was known about the Fest's band line-up until a blast GW email was sent the day before the event, announcing Wale as a last minute addition to the repertoire.

- Matt Rist 

CI Briefs

Welcome CI-ers. From DC’s unique culture to Colonial basketball games to plenty of politics both on and off campus, we hope you grow to love GW as much as we do. If you’re looking for somewhere to fit in, stop by the WRGW tables at the CI student org fair. We’d love to meet you and if you’re interested in broadcast journalism, we want you to join our team! Just give us your email and we'll get you on the air in the fall. If you miss us at the fair, don't worry. You can email me at wrgwnewsdirector@gmail.com to let me know you're interested or to ask any questions.

Now on with the news!

• President Emeritus Stephen Joel Trachtenberg will sign copies of his book Big Man on Campus: A University President Speaks Out on Higher Education at Politics & Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., NW) on Friday (tonight) at 7pm. Trachtenberg's new book is about the current state of higher education. With more than 30 years of experience, Trachtenberg helps to reveal what goes on behind the scenes of running a university.

• Comedian Robin Williams will headline this year's Colonials Weekend, University officials announced last Friday. Williams will perform at the Smith Center Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday Oct. 18 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. July 8, and cost between $57 and $150, according to a news release. Peter Konwerski, assistant vice president for SASS, told the Hatchet that Williams was the "first and top choice" for Colonials Weekend.

• Women's basketball coach Joe McKeown, resigned this month after 19 years in Foggy Bottom to become the women’s basketball coach at Northwestern. McKeown announced his decision June 9 in Evanston, Illinois. "I just felt like I had been at GW for 19 years and I was very fortunate to have a great run there," McKeown told the Hatchet. "But Northwestern came after me and really emphasized the potential for women's basketball there, being in the Big 10." McKeown’s autistic son was a significant factor in his decision to move. Although McKeown’s contract was extended through 2014, Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz said there was no buyout in the move. Kvancz said he will begin the search for a new coach immediately and hopes to finish it as soon as possible.

• Pops Mensah-Bonsu is back in Dallas to try out for the Mavericks. While Pops was recovering from a knee injury that kept him from playing most of his senior year at GW, he played in 12 games during his rookie season with the Mavericks in 2006-07. After a stint playing abroad in Italy, he’s hoping for another shot at the NBA.

• A recent GW grad is already making a name for herself – as Miss DC. Kate Marie Grinold won the May 31st contest and will go on to compete in the Miss America Pageant in January. The Miss D.C. pageant awarded Grinold a $5,000 academic scholarship and she will now have the opportunity to compete for more scholarship money in the Miss America Pageant. The competition will be held in Las Vegas, and contestants will be filming a reality television show about the Miss America pageant this fall.

• GW's wireless network has expanded throughout the Marvin Center. Ronald C. Bonig, vice president and chief information officer, said, "This move gives the university community the flexibility to work throughout the campus and remain connected to our wireless network." This is part of a university-wide initiative to expand wireless connectivity throughout the Foggy Bottom Campus. The next buildings to receive wireless installations are the Academic Center, Media and Public Affairs Building, Old Main, Ross and Tompkins halls, and Fulbright and Thurston residence halls.
  


• Hillary Clinton suspended her run for the White House in DC last week. She spoke to 3,000 people at the National Building museum. Arriving 45 minutes late, she pledged her support to competitor Barack Obama saying, “So today, I am standing with Senator Obama to say: Yes we can.” Obama will be confirmed as the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this summer. Photo courtesy GW student Kat Overland.
  

• Friday the 13th was full of confusion in DC as a massive power outage crippled the center of the city. The outage was from the PEPCO substation in Chinatown and knocked out power for 30 blocks, including three metro station, for nearly three hours during the morning workday. Also, in a seeming unrelated event, two fires broke out in Metro Center station caused by smoldering stud bolts and while the station was only closed briefly, they added major delays to the morning rush. In fact, Metro had its share of problems last week. Besides Friday’s red line disaster, the orange line was affected three times last week, stranding commuters after a train derailed last Monday and then trains having to single-track around kinks in the line caused by the excessive heat near the West Falls Church stop. Investigations are underway for both the power outage and metro’s derailment.

• If you’re in DC this summer, a few new restaurants in our area are worth checking out. There’s a new Spanish tapas spot in Georgetown – Bodega. It’s open 11 during the week and until midnight on the weekends and boasts traditional Spanish tapas, much like Jaleo in Penn Quarter. Also new in the Georgetown area is Tacklebox, a lobster shack. From the same owners as Hook, Tacklebox is located next door in the old Georgetown Baglery. They offer affordable seafood and for all of you New Englanders – Lobster Boil pots to go. And finally, former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelson will be flipping burgers at his family’s new restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery which will open later this month. Located at 303 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, it’s only a few blocks from the Capitol South metro stop. Burger prices will likely range between $5.50 and $7.95. The Mendelson family has plans to open 50 nationwide over the next decade.

- Mallory Thompson

The Best of the Best

The red carpet was out last Wednesday for the 23rd annual excellence in Student Life Awards. Over 250 students, staff, faculty and student organizations were nominated for the impact they’ve made on the GW community.

Emcees Melissa Meyer, Kris Kotek and Andrea Criollo entertained and introduced presenters of 21 awards, while GW Ballroom, Capital Funk and the GW Pitches performed. All of the groups were nominated for the student’s choice for performance group of the year award.

University president Steven Knapp said “an event like this recognizes our values as we recognize our contributions to not only GW, but to our neighbors and the entire world.”

After the awards, students, staff and faculty wre invited to a desert reception featuring CakeLove, Coldstone ice cream, cheeses and fondue in Kogan Plaza.

Dan Curran, a sophomore and student presenter at the awards show said, "I think the awards were an appropriate overview and tribute to the amazing student life we have on campus."

The Winners were:

Marissa Lazo

for the Class of 2005 9/11 Memorial Scholarship

The Human Services Program

for the Learning through Action Award

Britney D’Ambra and Jordan Hensaw

for the Marc A. Zambetti Award

Josh Hartman

for the Grad Life Award

Capital Funk

for the Student’s Choice for Performance Group of the Year Award

Global Languages and the Black Student Union

for the Multicultural Student Services Center “Excellence in Diversity Award

Somers RAC

for the Walter G. Bryte, Jr. Achievement Award

Allison Fuller and Andrew Guran

for the House Staff Member of the Year Award

Michael R. Komo and Kelly Leon

for House Staff Leader of the Year Award

Benjamin Balter, Michael Corey Barenburgge, Amanda Dick, Timothy Little and Karella Pallan

for the Joint Committee of Faculty and Students Scholarship for Leadership Development Award

The April 2007 Battle of the A Acappellas

for the Program Board Event of the Year Award

Michael Rossetti of Sigma Phi Epsilon

for the Greek Man of the Year Award

Jacqueline Hackett of Aplha Delta Pi

for the Greek Woman of the Year Award

Alpha Delta Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Kappa Alpha

for Greek Chapter of the Year Award

Tim Shea

for the Student Employee of the Year Award

Andresse St. Rose

for the SJT CO-OP Student of the Year Award

Liz Ramey and the 2008 New Orleans Alternative Spring Break Leaders

for the Outstanding Service Award

Christopher David Gearhard and Honey Nashman

for the Spark of Life Award

Daniel November, Gabe Lade, Fade Adetosoye and Jacqueline Hackett

for the Baer Award for Individual Excellence

The Asian Student Alliance, Black Student Union and EMERGE

for the Pyramid Award for Student Organization of the Year

The Organization of Latino American Students

for the Spotlight of the Year Award

- Julie Hyman

4/20 Earth Day A "Wash"...Literally

April 20, 2008 promised to be one of the biggest, greatest celebration of Earth Day that The District has ever seen. The entire National Mall worked in conjunction with the Green Apple Festival with a call for climate, a demand for immediate, effective and equitable action against global warming. All of the pieces were in place – the right amalgamation of leaders, community activists, top speakers and A-list talent including Jordin Sparks, Talib Queli, Will I Am, O.A.R., Umphreys McGhee and the much anticipated Roots. Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons, actor Edward Norton and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) were also on the slate. But one very important factor truly conquered the celebration – Mother Earth herself.

Mother Earth showed up mean and melancholy with an obvious vendetta against The District. Torrential downpours ensued, along with gale-force winds and even reports of hail. But it was lightning from the approaching thunderstorms that really nipped the activities in the bud. Two tornadoes actually touched down in Maryland – one in Hyattsville and one in St. Charles.

Fewer than half the artists performed and even the event headliner – The Roots – failed to take the stage. It really was a sad day for concert-goers and for the organizers of the festivities.

Though, there were other popular ways to spend 4/20 that did not involve venturing outside at all. Wet and downtrodden concert-goers probably came together afterwards to capture the high that they failed to get from the concert.

- Shawn Willis

A Papal Parade

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Sitting in the Pope-mobile, perhaps the most sacred figure on earth drove past the Froggy Bottom Pub, Johnny Rockets, and practically through GW itself. Today’s short ride began at the White House where Pope Benedict XVI met with President Bush, and was greeted by upwards of 13,500 people in the largest gathering in White House history. At noon Benedict traveled west on Pennsylvania Avenue, past Washington Circle and then onto Rock Creek Parkway where he exited at Massachusetts Avenue.

Thousands of people lined the streets. Some sang songs and waved flags, while others proudly displayed their new, commemorative Pope t-shirts. Benedict, who turns 81 years old today, will hold a Papal Mass before 46,000 people at Nationals Park tomorrow, an event that is sold out. Tomorrow evening, at about 5:15 p.m. the Pope will ride from the campus of The Catholic University of America to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in North America, and one of the largest religious structures in the world. The viewing route at Catholic University is by ticket only and have already been distributed.

The Holy Father’s 6-day American trip will continue in New York City later this week where he will hold mass at Yankee Stadium, speak at the United Nations, and visit Ground Zero. The Pope’s visit is designed to introduce himself to America, home to millions of Catholics but also a place where the Holy Father is largely unfamiliar.

-Jesse Regis

GW Hosts 15th Annual "Bhangra Blowout"

This year marked the 15^th anniversary of Bhangra Blowout, hosted by GW’s South Asian Society. Bhangra is a traditional Punjabi folk dance style that depends heavily on intense percussion beats. Bhangra has been taken over by the entertainment industry in the 21^st century. Teams from Columbia, Drexel, Northwestern and many more descended upon the Foggy Bottom campus to compete for a $4,000 first place prize. Leading up to the competition, there was the Bhangra Blowout launch party for all competing teams, followed by a Saturday afternoon block party. The competition was held Saturday evening in Constitution Hall.

- Shawn Willis

Karl Rove Visits GW

Last Friday Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush spoke before students in the Elliot School's Harry Harding auditorium. Affectionately regarded by event organizers as the "architect" of the war on global terrorism, literature distributed at the event praised Rove's role in "liberating more than 50 million people from two regimes…taking the unprecedented steps to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction…[and] championing the No Child Left Behind Act."

Rove, now a Fox News contributor, focused his prepared speech on the 2008 Presidential Election, questioning Barack Obama's attacks on his former boss President Bush. Rove alleges that members of Congress were also convinced that weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. Rove later acknowledged that the intelligence leading to war was incorrect, but did not offer an apology, instead insisting that regardless of the past the administration must focus on the status quo.

Rove, also notable for his role in George W. Bush's Texas gubernatorial campaigns, was twice interrupted by protesters. The first, a single individual shouted an explicative before being led away by University and Metropolitan police. The second, a group of four students were removed upon unfurling a banner reading "war criminal" and reading article six of the Nuremberg trial proceedings. A separate protest outside the Elliot school attracted about a dozen participants.

Following the speech a number of GW students posted questions to Mr. Rove, answering them in detail and once offering an anecdote of his time in the White House. Rove did not remain accessible to the public after the event.

The event was sponsored by GW's chapter of Young America's Foundation, a student organization focused on the advancement of conservative values. Past guests to campus have included Ann Coulter, John Ascroft, David Horowitz, and Newt Gingrich.

-Jesse Regis

CNN'S Amanpour Comes to the National Press Club

Renowned CNN Correspondent Christiane Amanpour spoke with Marvin Kalb last night during GW's latest Kalb Report. The series highlights important issues in public affairs and has featured a wide array of guests since its inception in 1994.

Kalb began the discussion by asking Amanpour how growing up during the Iranian revolution affected her decision to become a journalist. She responded that after watching her home country change so violently she "wanted to be involved, as an observer and a player, and not a victim."

Amanpour's reporting from war zones across the world established her role as a serious player in global news. She gained prestige while reporting from Sarajevo in the nineties, covering what she discovered to be "a genocide." Amanpour brought the brutality of the Bosnian government into the eyes of the public, feeling it was the duty of a journalist to "tell the truth even when the truth is not comfortable."

At the close of the program, Amanpour encouraged aspiring journalists to pursue the truth with a passion, and to keep the public informed. "Be a believer, in this society where the press is called the 4th estate." "Information" she said, "is something a society cannot do without."

- Lex Ratner

BJ Novak Gets Laughs at Lisner

On Friday, February 8th, BJ Novak - stand-up comedian and star of the popular NBC sitcom "The Office," performed at GW’s Lisner Auditorium. In addition to staring in “The Office," Novak is a producer for the show and has appeared in movies like “Reign Over Me” and “Knocked Up."

Novak’s performance was part of the program board’s “Winter Hoopla,” which celebrates GW’s basketball teams.

Dan Mintz was Novak's opening act. Mintz is expected to have his own Comedy Central special some time next month.

Novak’s routine lasted for an hour, with most of his jokes consisting of childhood nostalgia. He also performed with ‘shy puppet’ and a briefcase full of jokes that were, supposedly, never heard before. After his performance, Novak remained in the Lisner Auditorium lobby for a "meet and greet," signing autographs and taking pictures with adoring fans.

- Lyle Leitelt

D.C. Holiday Happenings

December has arrived, the holidays are upon us and Washington is celebrating in style!

The Washington Post released its holiday guide last week and it is chock full of yuletide spirit. For those musicians out there, there are a ton of musical events to check out. On December 17st at 8:00 p.m. the Kennedy Center will host the annual Messiah Sing-A-Long. Also, don’t miss the Rockapella Holiday event on December 8th at George Mason University. The concert will feature a five-man a capella group signing jazz, rock and classic versions of your holiday favorites. Finally, check out the All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam at the Kennedy Center. Local jazz musicians will be jamming and jazzing up your holiday!

Other great events are also happening in the D.C. area. On December 5th, swing by Pentagon Row for free horse and carriage rides, photos with Santa, carolers, and the ice skating rink! Lastly, if you want something unique to give your friends for the holidays this year, stop by the Downtown Holiday Market running from the 7th until the 23rd. Toys, ornaments and other crafts can be found outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery’s F Street entrance.

So take a break from studying for your finals and join in the holiday cheer!

For more information and to learn about other events, check out the holiday guide at Washingtonpost.com.

- Maeve Duggan

Rocky Horror Returns

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

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

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

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

- Julie Hyman

Crystal Lightens Up Parent's Weekend

In classic awards show style, President Knapp asked, “May I have the envelope please?” as he introduced this year’s Colonials Weekend performer – comedian Billy Crystal. As a host of the Oscars eight times and countless other awards show, the introduction was fitting. “What happens at the smith center, stays at the smith center,” was Crystal’s comedic theme as he poked fun at everything from politics to college life, including President Knapp. His show may not have been very family friendly, but audiences seemed pleased with the performance.

After a night full of laughter and a video from most recent time as host of the Oscars, Crystal pulled some volunteers up on stage with him for his final round of laughs. Joined by a mother, two college students, and President Knapp making animal noises and other sound effects, Crystal recreated a movie scene. In an interview after the show, Crystal told reporters he thought it was important for them to see their new college president in a new light. Crystal was in town a night early because he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy center. He then performed both Friday and Saturday nights for students and parents with a limited number of seats available to the general public.

- Mallory Thompson

The Dalai Lama Visits DC

(Photo courtesy of wired.com)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Shawn Willis

Houses of the Future

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

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

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

-Jesse Regis

AIDS Walk Washington

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

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

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

- Jesse Regis