All Classes on Wednesday after 4:30 CANCELLED

George Washington University administrators have cancelled all classes beginning after 4:30 PM on Wednesday, January 26 in response to current and imminent severe weather conditions.

From GW Campus Advisories:

All classes starting at 4:30 p.m. or later on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, are canceled for GW’s Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia Science and Technology campuses and the university’s Arlington and Alexandria locations.

Early release of GW employees will begin at 4 p.m. with the approval of the employee’s manager.

Early release for employees on site at the Biostatistics Center in Montgomery County, Md., began at 2:45 p.m.

The Office of Emergency Management asks all students to stay up to date with evolving weather news by checking their website, http://www.campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.

No decision has been made for classes on Thursday, January 27.

Fed. Government Skips Town with Snow on the Horizon

While talk of freezes in last night's State of the Union may have sent chills down Federal employees' spines, the Office of Personnel Management is sending workers home early today due to a more natural threat: snow.

In order to avoid travel on roads that are predicted to become increasingly ice-covered as the afternoon moves forward, employees have been granted permission to leave their offices inside the District two hours earlier than usual.

As of now, GWU officials have announced no deviations from normal operations for either Wednesday or Thursday, but will be monitoring the situation throughout the afternoon as conditions worsen.

The National Weather Service upgraded its winter storm watch to an official warning around noon today, including with it an updated forecast predicting 5-10 inches by midnight Wednesday.  The snow, predicted to start in the mid-afternoon, will be at its hardest during the late afternoon rush hour.  Visibility will fall to less than a quarter mile and accumulation could reach up to 2 inches per hour.

Forecasts have been trending towards the severe as the day progresses.  Less than 24 hours before the National Weather Service issued its winter storm warning, some outlets questioned whether the District would see any accumulation at all; current predictions from NOAA, however, put the odds of an 8"+ snowfall at 40%, and 4"+ at over 70%.

This story is developing; stay WRGW News for the latest information on weather, class cancellations and much more.

Art on the Run: The Museum of Censored Art

Dedicated to restoring censored art, the aptly titled Museum of Censored Art is displaying a controversial video banned from the Smithsonian in December after its portrayal of Jesus Christ, on a crucifix, covered in ants.

Located in a trailer in front of the National Art Gallery, the compact exhibition continuously screens David Wojnarowicz's four-minute film, “Fire in My Belly.” Throughout the display, posters and wall signs explain that the video isn’t anti-Christian, instead “criticizing societies indifference toward AIDS.”

The total cost of the presentation, which will last a month, ending February 13, is $3,100, $2,600 for parking and a $1,500 fee for the trailer.

“We gathered up the money to put this together,” Adrian Parsons, a volunteer for the Museum explained. “We got through a fundraiser a lot of help.”

Almost a month after the controversy erupted, in which the Catholic League, a group independent of the Catholic Church, and Congressional Republicans demanded its removal from the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art in New York has decided to display the piece.

“Now that it’s hung in a museum, the forefront of contemporary art … a lot of people have seen this,” Parsons said.

Through January 20th, over 1,900 people have visited the Museum of Censored Art.

Nationals Gear Up For 2011

The Washington Nationals look to rebound from a disappointing 69 and 93 2010 season with a few key offseason roster changes. The Nats traded left fielder Josh Willingham to the Oakland A's. Big-hitting first baseman Adam Dunn moved to the American League as the White Sox designated hitter. But General Manager Mike Rizzo had a busy winter shelling out big money on free agents.

The Nationals agreed to a seven-year, 126 million dollar contract with All-Star right fielder Jayson Werth. First baseman Adam LaRoche signed a two year contract worth 16 million dollars with an option for an additional 10 million in 2013. Former Braves post-season hero, Rick Ankiel also signed on with a one-year contract worth up to 2.75 million dollars.

This week, the Nationals picked up utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. and right-handed relief pitcher Todd Coffey, agreeing to one-year contracts with both players.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training February 16th.

Nationals tickets for the 2011 season are already available with a buy-two-get-two discount with a 20-percent deposit on full season ticket packages.

-Joseph Rabinowitz

Inauspicious Fall for GW Greek Life

Last fall was one marked with controversy for GW Greek Life, with nearly 10 Greek organizations under investigation by Student Judicial Services for a majority of the semester. Allegations against such fraternities as Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and Pi Kappa Phi and such sororities as Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma included claims of underage drinking, supplying of alcohol to minors, and hazing.

Due to the violations, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Gamma will all lose their housing on Townhouse Row. All of the Greek organizations involved were given a range of punishments; for example, Beta Theta Pi has been placed on one year social probation. SJS has not yet released a full set of results from their investigations or the punishments to be doled out.

Junior Frank Gervasio, president of the IFC and member of Beta Theta Pi says that the IFC is adopting a new self governing system to help make fraternities more accountable for their actions and  to prevent alcohol abuse and hazing in the future.

With IFC spring rush beginning on Monday of next week, Gervasio believes that rush will be done as usual and that all of the chapters on campus are very eager and excited for a new year, new semester, and new rush season.

DC Tied For Worst Traffic In The Country

For years, Los Angeles has been regarded as America's most-congested city.  That unwelcome honor, however, has been passed along this year.

According to a survey by the Texas Transportation Institute, Washington DC and Chicago are tied for the most congestion, with 70 hours a year per person spent in traffic.  That comes out to about 3 days, while Los Angeles stands in third place with 63 hours wasted.

Nationally, traffic congestion costs the country billions of dollars each year.  2009's bill, 115 billion is a marked increase 1982's 24 billion.  Average congestion time nationwide has also shown a long-term upward trend; commuters spent a mere 14 hours in traffic in 1984, less than half of the 32 hours of today.

DC's diminutive size sets it apart from the sprawling metropolises of Chicago and Los Angeles, a problem exacerbated by the daytime doubling of the city's population by commuters.  Space for that many cars simply does not exist. Current strategies to prevent congestion, such as staggering work hours and fixing trafic light timing are band-aids to the bigger problem: DC continues to grow in population, but not in space.

Perhaps predictably, the Washington Post and AAA both report that road rage in the area has risen in area among commuting drivers.

Finally in campus transportation news, WMATA anticipates serious repairs to the entrance of the Foggy Bottom Metro station.  A Wednesday press release indicated that the transit agency will replace all existing escalators, the awning over the entrance, and install a stairwell.  Work could take over a year.

Restaurant Week 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011, began Washington DC’s 2011 restaurant week. Restaurant week will run until Sunday, January 23, 2011.

Over 200 of DC’s restaurants will be offering multi – course lunch and dinner specials. Three course lunches are $20.11 and dinners are $35.11. Tip, tax, and beverages are not included.

The list of restaurants can be viewed at www.washington.org/restaurantwk/. To reserve tables either call the restaurant or use www.opentable.com.

GW Day of Service

Many people hold Martin Luther King Day to be very dear to their hearts, but for many GW students, it now means something more. Students from all grades were bussed to different locations, on Monday, to clean, repair and improve the surrounding DC area. While many were sent to schools and community centers, others were cent to nursing homes and project sites.

“It was pretty cool helping gout the community,” said Adrian Levit, a freshman from New Jersey. “I wish I could have helped out for longer.”

As many as 2,000 students woke up early and traveled to these different locations to help out. Though many were satisfied, some were disappointed.

“I wish we could have stayed for a whole day,” said Kevin Goodwin, a sophomore, “It seems like a third of the time was speakers, a third traveling a third working. We definitely could have done more work.”

Regardless of time, many students from many backgrounds helped support the DC area and keep Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream alive.  

New Housing Option Offered to GW Students

If next year, GW students that are involved in a certain organization or have similar interests want to live together, GW is offering Affinity Housing. It is less structured than the LLC program and will be living communities based around particular needs and interests.

GW Housing Programs says the goal of the program is to provide opportunities for students to extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom into the living environment and invite students to create such opportunities for themselves.

Each Affinity Group must have at least 10 members with a Group Coordinator, who will serve as the main point of contact for GW Housing programs.

In order to apply, all members must have at least a 2.5 GPA, no active record with SJS, and submit an online application no later than February 10th at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, go to living.gwu.edu

Body Found on Farragut North Tracks

The Farragut North Metro station has been temporarily closed due to the discovery of a body on the tracks. Metro released a statement early Saturday afternoon explaining that train service would be delayed as trains were being diverted in either direction. WRGW News will be bringing you updates as the story develops.