Psychological Effects of Valentine's Day

Throughout the country, and especially among teens, Valentine’s Day is a day people feel like they need to share with someone. The day is promoted in ads that litter television commercial breaks, Internet sidebars, and even emails. Campus businesses are even getting in on the holiday spirit: Campusfood.com, for example, is giving $5 off of every order from February 11 until the 14th.

"Ads and market in general is design to create stress, and a way to get rid of that stress it to buy," said Daniel Z. Lieberman, M.D., a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. All of this results in a very hyped up Valentine’s Day, which for many can be psychologically detrimental if they feel the pressures of not sharing the day with someone.

For Rachael Holbreich, Valentine's Day has become all about expectations.

"Do I need to do something for someone, or will someone do something for me?” said Holbreich.

The fact that a person may not know what will occur can add to psychological tension.

"It makes people think they need to have someone to spend it with,” she said. But for Rachael, the holiday is just about telling someone you care about them.

Asked if Valentine's Day is really a day to be treated differently than others, Lieberman said, "I think it is different. If were to compare it to Mother's Day, a classic marketing-driven holiday, it is pretty easy to meet the expectations - buy a card and make a phone call." But Valentine's Day is "fundamentally different," he said.

"Valentine's Day is about feeling loved. If we don’t meet the expectations that are placed upon this holiday, it can make us feel either unloved or, even worse, unworthy of being loved," Lieberman concluded.

Elizabeth Kennedy feels that there is a healthy way to approach Valentine’s Day, even if you are single on the day.

"Instead of focusing on your lack of date or the amount of flowers you have not received, put on a larger smile than you normally would and take advantage of the special holiday which underlines love,” she said.

Valentine’s Day can be a stressful day, but if approached correctly, it can be easy and fun for all.

BREAKING NEWS: Sec. of State Clinton to Speak at GW this Tuesday

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be coming to GW this Tuesday February 15th. Clinton will be delivering a speech on “Internet Rights And Wrongs: Choices; Challenges In A Networked World" at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the Jack Morton Auditorium, on the first floor of the School of Media and Public Affairs building.

The speech was described as "major" in a statement released late Friday afternoon by the Office of Media Relations for George Washington University.

Check back with WRGWNews.com for coverage of the event next week.

Metro Considers Cutting 3am Service

Photo by DC Metro People on Flickr.

GW students already love to complain about the Metro's inconvenient closing times - 12am Sunday through Thursday, and 3am on Friday and Saturday.  Concertgoers, bar-hoppers and clubbers frequently find themselves sprinting to the station in hope of catching the last train, only to be rewarded with locked gates and an expensive taxi home.  If plans considered at last night's WMATA board meeting move forward, students may find themselves in the back of a cab on a much more regular basis.

Facing a yawning $72.5 million budget deficit, the beleaguered transit agency has been left to drastic measures to keep itself solvent.  Closing the Metro at 12am all week, as opposed to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, would save Metro $5 million a year.  

Board members also emphasized the additional time for maintenance work that such a schedule would afford.  Bringing weekend closing back to midnight would had 40-45 days of track repair to the calendar, lessening the the need for mid-day single tracking and other service disruptions.  Deputy General Manager for Operations Dave Kubicek was quoted in the Examiner as saying that the change would be like "adding an eighth day to a seven-day workweek.

Residents and students alike expressed concern with the proposed change. ESIA Junior Aria Varaseth emhpasized the reliance cost-conscious students placed on late operating hours: "Whether we're going to parties, clubs or galas, it's important to have that extra option...GW's 4-Ride service can only do so much.  To take that option away is a slap in the face to students from GW, American, Howard and Catholic..."

Solar Decathlon Kicked off Mall

Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Every two years since 2002, college teams from the around the world have descended on the National Mall to compete for their spot in the sun in the Solar Decathlon, a competition to build the most attractive and effective solar-powered house (See WRGW's 2009 coverage here).  This year, however, the teams may need to shift that spot to somewhere else.

The DC-centered blog DCist first reported in mid-January that due to concerns over the National Mall's health, the event would not be allowed to take place on the beleaguered grass between Capital hill and the Lincoln Memorial.  Some commentators, including DCist itself, immediately cried foul, noting that the week long event was just one of dozens that occur on the mall each year, yet the Solar Decathlon appeared to have been singled out for displacement.  While the Department of Energy is trying to keep the competition either within or near DC, other cities around the country have been raised as potential alternates.

Many teams, several from overseas, have already booked plane tickets and hotel reservations, further complicating matters.  Additionally, engineering calculations for the houses' finely-tuned solar generation systems are designed for the Washington area climate, and any last-minute change could lead to headaches for participants.

The Washington Post, however, lauded the decision, noting it was part of a positive trend towards preserving the Mall, along with the now-underway renovation of the reflecting pool.  The Decathlon has been known to cause severe damage to the nation's lawn in the past, with large trucks and heavy equipment digging deep ruts into the sod.

Confusingly, however, the National Park Service did approve the National Book Festival to take place on the mall during the same period, making efforts to restore the Decathlon to its previous home all the more difficult.  Reports have circulated today that the competition may be moved to the National Harbor, a development just south of the District, but Decathlon officials were unable to confirm if this was the case.

Andrew Breitbart Entertains CRs

Conservative media mogul Andrew Breitbart spoke to GW’s College Republicans Tuesday night, detailing his transformation from a “brainwashed” liberal and his career goal to “take down the institutional left.”

Speaking in the City View Room at the Elliott School of International Affairs, Breitbart gave a charismatic and entertaining speech detailing his political journey and the current struggles of the right.

He explained that as an adolescent he considered himself liberal and pursued an American Studies degree at Tulane University, which he now describes as “anti-American studies.”

“I didn’t know any better,” he stated. “I was a liberal.”

Former Press Secretaries Reflect on White House, Presidency, and Social Media

On Monday, four former White House Press Secretaries joined School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) Director Frank Sesno for a discussion on their experiences in the White House. Ari Fleischer and Dana Perino, from President George W Bush’s administration, and Mike McCurry and Dee Dee Meyers, from President Bill Clinton’s administration, spoke about shaping the image of their respective administration and their limited role in forming policy. Joe Lockhart, also from the Clinton administration, was slated to attend but was unable due to complications from a recent surgery.

Describing the event as the biggest of the semester for SMPA, Sesno began by reflecting on the years between Meyers and Perino, respectively the earliest secretary and most recent secretary on the panel. “When Dee Dee Meyers started her job there were fifty websites,” said Sesno to an audience of students, journalists, and media at Lisner Auditorium. In addition, Sesno reflected on the impact of social media. Sesno jokingly said, “When [Dana Perino] tweets, the world listens.”

Questions to the panel were fielded online from attendees prior to the event. On one question, pertaining to the changing format of the press, McCurry said, “It’s a real danger if we believe all media should be freely available. We need to pay for the content that matters.” The last question of evening asked how students could get close to becoming a press secretary. Perino suggested that GW students should take advantage of DC’s unique opportunities and “take the deputy job.”

Room Auction Raises Thousands, but Fairness Questioned

The Residence Hall Association held its annual room auction, Martha's Marathon, on Wednesday Feb. 2. The auction gave students the opportunity to bid on rooms in Munson Hall, JBKO, Guthridge Hall, The West End, The Dakota, South Hall, Amsterdam Hall, and Ivory Tower. Students could also win choice room assignments through a raffle and through a poker and blackjack tournament that served as the theme of the night.

All proceeds of the auction and the raffle go directly to the University Scholarship Fund. This year, a total of about $26,000 was raised. The same event last year raised $23,385.

Martha’s Marathon began 44 years ago as a small auction used to boost school spirit. The original auction winners received lunch with the Speaker of the House, a curfew extension for freshmen, and a football autographed by the entire football team. $2,084 was raised to buy books for the library.

CDs, CRs Host Dean & Gingrich Debate

GW’s College Democrats and Republicans jointly hosted a debate between two prominent partisans last night, former Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, and Democratic Chairman and Vermont Governor, Howard Dean, in front of a sold out Lisner Auditorium.

The event, moderated by Professor Derek Malone-France, covered a range of topics currently circulating through the media. Unlike many politicos, however, both debaters were civil and respectful.

“Newt and I like each other,” Dean pointed out before the debate, adding, “this is a transition point for the country.” Gingrich responded politely, praising President Obama’s campaign as “brilliant,” describing the candidate as “remarkable,” before stating the country, however, needs a “fundamental change.”

DC Restaurant Highlight: Bayou on Penn

Sandwiched between Washington Circle and the corridor of Georgetown boutiques, lies an area more familiar to GW students as home to the District's only Trader Joe's, than a culinary hot spot. But a new business aims to become a go-to bar and restaurant for its neighbors.

It is a Cajun-inspired restaurant and bar called Bayou, open for business six days a week. Diners and bar hoppers can enjoy live jazz music Wednesday through Saturday during the dinner rush, and local bands take center stage late Fridays and Saturdays.

Jason York, one of the establishment's four owners, sat down with WRGW News to discuss his vision, "We are trying to be a neighborhood bar with live music, reasonably-priced, delicious food, sports on TV and a great drink menu," he said. "We really wanted to bring the great atmosphere of New Orleans to DC."

Some must-try specialties: the fried green tomatoes (Executive Chef Rusty Holman calls them his "southern specialty"), the pork wings and the bread pudding drizzled with a bourbon caramel sauce.

The drink menu features a full selection of Abita beers from Louisiana, complemented by traditional New Orleans cocktail such as Hurricanes and Sazeracs.

"It feels like it could be a familiar place where everybody knows each other," said Kendra Johnson, a GW junior studying political science. "The flavors are unique and delicious, it's a great casual atmosphere and just two blocks from campus."

Be sure to check out Bayou on Penn first-hand on March 8th for Mardi Gras events all weekend long.

For more information, visit www.bayoupenn.com.

New Federal Dietary Guidelines Signal Change for Teen Health, GW Courses

On Monday, representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans at Jack Morton Auditorium. Secretaries Vilsack, of the USDA, and Sebelius, of HHS, were on hand for the press conference. Both departments review their guidelines every five years, as mandated by public law.

The guidelines are designed and intended for “healthy Americans ages 2 years and older.” A highlight of the revised recommendations includes a reduction of daily salt intake. New to the guidelines this year are additional, more specific, recommendations for pregnant women and adults over the age of 50. Pregnant women are encouraged to consume seafood and foods with iron and folic acid. Individuals over the age of 50 should consume foods “fortified with vitamin B12.”

Dr. Julia Lear, Interim Chair for the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services, believes that changes will affect courses currently being taught at GW. “The new guidelines will have an obvious impact on any discussion, whether in the School Health class ... or Federal Policy Making [class] offered by [GW].” Lear referenced an article from the Washington Post, saying “[the guidelines] will have a profound effect on everything from school lunches to nutrition labels in the supermarket.”

When asked about her department’s response to the revised guidelines, Lear said, “Without even asking, it’s a good bet that there would be overwhelming support for guidelines. They offer stronger support for the fight against [obesity] in this country].”

When asked about specific guidelines for teenagers and college students, Dr. Robert Post, Director of Nutrition Policy for the Department of Agriculture, referred to the USDA’s website, where individuals can put in several characteristics about themselves (weight, height, etc.) and can receive customized dietary guidelines online. Vilsack said that specific guidelines for different age groups are a new and growing concept for the recommendations. Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for HHS, said the guidelines still apply to teenagers in their entirety due to an increase in obesity among all age groups.