Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Sexual Health in the District

On Wednesday of last week, shortly after the Trojan Evolve Tour transformed Kogan Plaza into a safe sex education haven, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty announced that an advertising campaign to encourage HIV/AIDS testing and prevention will be launched in the District.

The campaign is in response to a report on the AIDS epidemic by the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, which found that the city is not doing enough to increase public awareness of the epidemic. The problem is particularly important among youth, and age group for which the epidemic is growing at an alarming rate. According to the District of Columbia's Department of Health, roughly 1 out of every 100 young people ages 13 to 24 in the District is HIV infected or has full-blown AIDS. Almost 12,500 people in the District were known to have HIV or AIDS in 2006, the most recent year of statistics available.

Sexually transmitted diseases are one of the targets of the Trojan Evolve Tour, which featured a 40 foot long interactive bus, a pledge sheet students could sign to promise they would use a condom everytime they have sex, banana races, an Imax-style rollercoaster ride and, of course, free giveaways. The tour, billed as a grassroots campaign to raise awareness about the poor state of sexual health in America, will continue through November, according to the Trojan Condoms website.

-Monica Wysocki

DC Sports Round Up

In baseball, the Nationals finished their season on Sunday with an 8-3 loss at Philidelphia.  The Nats had a final record of 59 and 102, winning only one of their last ten games.  The baseball post season commences thsi week with the National and American Leagues Divisional series.

In basketball, the Washington Wizards began their training camp on Saturday at Virginia Commonweatlh University.  Camp ends on October 3rd and the Wizards will have their first preseaon game at Dallas on October 7th.

In hockey, the Washington Capitols are undefeated after three preseason games.  ESPN, the Magazine, recently named the Caps as the dark horse team to win the Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup.  Last season marked the Caps' first playoff appearance since 2003.  The Capitals' only Stanley Cup appearance was in the 1998 when they were swept in four games by Detroit.

In football, the Redskins upset upset the Cowboys at Dallas in a 26-24 victory.  This was only the second win for the Redskins in Dallas in 13 years.  Jason Campbell completed 20 of 31 passes for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The rival teams will meet again in Washington on November 16th.  The Redskins' record improves to 3-1.

- Joe Lewis

Music Minute

iTunes Top 5

1. Love Lockdown - Kayne West

2. So What! - P!nk

3. Whatever You Like - TI

4. Love Story - Taylor Swift

5. Hot N’Cold - Katy Perry

CD Releases

September 29th

Travis Ode to J.Smith

September 30th

Flecktones - Jingle All the way

Ben Folds - Way to Normal

Jack’s Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

Tom Morello - The Fabled City

Pete Seeger - At 89

T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz

James Taylor - Covers

TI - Paper Trail

- Taylor Barnes

Bob Barr Interview Today

Tune in to www.gwradio.com or campus cable channel 22 at 1:15!

Monday, September 29, 2008

An Iftar for All

Two world religions united last week as the university celebrated its annual MSA/JSA iftar.  In Islam, iftar is the feast held at sunset each day during the month of Ramadan.

The Muslim and Jewish Student Associations, along with the Program Board, have been holding these feasts since 2002, following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The dinner’s menu consisted of only Kosher and Halal food.

It was a holy time for all, with Rosh Hashanah in the beginning of next week, Eid al-fitr in the middle of next week, and Yom Kippur at the end of next week. Prayers were recited in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. President Knapp was present, and spoke at the event, mentioning his attendance at an iftar at the Embassy of Kuwait.

The overall theme of the event was, “Serving Others.” Both religious groups called for interfaith dialogues, and cooperative efforts to better the surrounding community. The event was not open to only GW students, however.

A student from American University stated that it opened her eyes, and how she was amazed when she saw that, despite the differences between the two, both religions were united for a feast. A senior citizen called the event, “Marvelous. Simply marvelous.”

The night was concluded with closing statements from both organization presidents, giving all attendees a mission to help better the world.

- Zahin Hasan

Concert to Consider: Eli 'Paperboy' Reed and the True Loves

Last week, DC was graced with a visit by Eli 'Paperboy' Reed.  The 9:30 Club was converted to a dance party as the band's wails brought back the early days of soul and funk.  From his Beaver Cleaver hairdo, to Wilson Pickett-like sound, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed was definitely worth the trip.

Click here to listen to the full review:  Eli 'Paperboy' Reed

- Shawn Willis

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Review: Burn After Reading

[caption id="attachment_605" align="alignleft" width="185" caption="Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading"]Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading[/caption]

Burn After Reading, the new Coen Brother's film is ridiculous.

This is not to say that it is bad, in fact, I quite recommend it.  Far from being the best of Joel and Ethan Coen's films (I'd give that distinction to Fargo), Burn is strangely subversive and very fun. Throughout the film, no one ever knows what's going on, least of all the puzzled CIA agents who try, through not very hard, to contain the concentrated madness that follows the main characters around.

One of the best elements of the film is its wicked send-up of the CIA-scandal genre of film that has become so popular in recent years.  This film category includes Breach, Syriana, The Interpreter, the Bourne series, and last year's Micheal Clayton.  The Coens have taken the intensity, the camera angles, the music cues and the pervasive feeling of doom that has become the hallmark of these films.  All these elements help to highlight the extreme nothingness at the center of the film's plot and in turn, this nothingness is great at pointing out the inherent silliness of the norms of CIA-scandal films.

Brad Pitt gives what his character, Chad, would shurely term an, "awesome" performance, as does John Malkovich.  The film overall doesn't amount to much, even with its many clever moments.  If nothing else, this film has compounded my faith in the Coen Brothers to make funny and subversive films, while also increasing my geneal fear of John Malkovich, tenfold.

- Ahna Olson

Law & Order: GWU

Our first story today is, unsurprisingly, a liquor law violation out of Thurston. University Police received a call from an individual unaffiliated with the school who was concerned about the well-being of a GW student.  Officers, accompanied by the Community Director on duty from housing, knocked on this student’s door and entered when no one answered. Upon entry they encountered the male resident and a female GW student asleep, likely as a result of consumption of the copious amounts of beer and liquor in plain view.  Further investigation revealed that the unaffiliated individual who placed the call had received a text message from one of the GW students that led her to be concerned about the student.

There was also a report of destruction of property on campus, concerning 1925 F Street, or President Steven Knapp’s house. The front door of the residence was marred by dirt and mud, possibly as a result of a thrown dirt clod.

Another report of destruction of property: This concerned graffiti on flyers placed on a bulletin board by Ambling Management Company, which currently manages a number of residence halls at GWU.

UPD was also called to Potomac recently for a noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers were allowed entrance to the room in question, which was occupied at the time by two male residents, a female GW student, and one male unaffiliated with the school. The officers found drug paraphernalia in plain view. A search carried out by the community director yielded 2 point 4 grams of marijuana, a smoking pipe, a grinder, and some beer.

Another liquor law violation was reported after a UPD officer observed a male GW student stumble and collapse onto a bench in Kogan Plaza. When the young man was approached he became verbally abusive, and the officer had to handcuff him for security. The student was thereafter transferred by UPD to the George Washington University Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.

And finally we have a case of unlawful entry that is now a non-forceable burglary. Two residents of New Hall entered their room to find a black male subject present. They confronted the individual, and he asked if the building had rooms for rent. When they emphasized that the room was private, he mumbled something about being a repairman and left. UPD was contacted immediately ensuing the encounter and officers came to New Hall to block all of the exits. Unfortunately, the subject had already escaped. A review of security tapes in the building revealed that the individual had gone down the hall checking to see which doors were open; for this reason, it was reclassified as a non-forceable burglary. In fact, the residents of the room in question had left their door unlocked, which is why the subject was able to enter.

- Jenn Neuner

Mascot Misinformation

Contrary to an article published by our colleagues at the Hatchet last Thursday, the unofficial hippo mascot that we have all come to love is not being removed by the university.

The article was published basted on statements by John Och, GW's licensing coordinator and Elio Distaola, a spokesman for Follett, the company that manages the bookstore.  The news caused great concern among the student body, many of whom have come to appreciated the hippo as much as our team of official mascots - George and Big George.

According to Helen Saulny, the assistant vice president for student and academic Support Services, the issue was a misinterpretation regarding the placement of the hippo design on various styles of merchandise during discussions last fall between the university and the bookstore.  The discussions allowed for an opportunity to clarify how the hippo design, which is not registered as an official mascot of GW, will be used.

The misunderstanding arose from legal concerns about the protection of the hippo mascot and a directive to limit orders of hippo merchandise until an official decision was made.  This was misinterpreted as a decision to phase out the hippo entirely.

The original bronze hippo at H & 21st Streets was a gift from former university President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg to the class of 2000.  Legend has it that the Potomac was once a home for hippos during Washington's time.

Hippo merchandise is still available in the bookstore and we will continue to see the beloved mascot at spirit events.  Since the time of the original article, the Hatchet published a correction to the original article, helping to quell the campus wide hippo scare.

-Monika Wysocki

Friday, September 19, 2008

Music Minute

Itunes Top 5


1. So What - P!nk


2. Love Story - Taylor Swift


3. Whatever You Want - TI


4. Disturbia - Rhianna


5. Hot N’ Cold - Katy Perry



New Album Releases


September 16th:


Blessid Union of Souls - Close to the Edge


Lindsey Buckingham - Gift of Screws


Nelly - Brass Knuckles


Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman


Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination


Darius Rucker - Learn to Live


September 23rd:


Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty


Jackson Browne - Time the Conqueror


Everlast - Love War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford


Plain White T’s - Big Bad World


Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation



Upcoming Concerts


Friday


Robin Sexsmith at Jammin Java


Saturday


Mary J. Blige at Nissan Pavilion


Sunday


The Mars Volta at Rams Head Live!


- Taylor Barnes