WRGW News at 6: Wednesday, November 20, 2013

WRGW News at 6: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

SA Senate Addresses Undergraduate Admissions Policy, Student Organization Allocations at Latest Meeting

By McKinley Kant and Joe F. Paolicelli

The GW Student Association Senate met for the third straight week in November in the School of Media and Public Affairs building to hear from Senior Associate Provost for Enrollment Management Laurie Koehler about the university’s “need-aware” admissions practice.

Provost Koehler, who admitted last month that the university had been falsely advertising its undergraduate admissions process as “need-blind” for years even though some applicants’ financial information was taken into account when making a final admission decision, told the Senate that the Office of Admissions has taken steps to accurately communicate its practices.

Koehler said the Office of Admissions has taken steps to include more information on the undergraduate admissions website and hold additional staff training.

“At the request of President Steven Knapp, I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to engage in conversations with our current admissions staff, current administrators, reviewing our admissions print and online materials, to try to gauge what happened,” Koehler said.

“I did, regrettably, identify occasions where we were not as accurate as we should have been.”

In response to a question by Sen. Ryan Counihan (SoB-U) Koehler said the Office of Admissions has not changed the way it admits and denies students and continues to emphasize a holistic approach.

After the conclusion of Koehler’s statement and questions from the senators, the Senate unanimously passed a bill approving fall allocations for approximately 40 new student organizations. Senator Counihan, chair of the finance committee, reported the committee had just under $200,000 remaining in their co-sponsorship fund after approving funding for the Parliamentary Debate Society to host a tournament and the Engineer’s Council to host an app development workshop.

Senator Counihan also reported that funding reviews had determined that catering by Sodexo for student organizations had almost doubled in cost over the course of a year. He gave an example of an event hosted by the College Democrats where, for the same event and food, the cost went from $392 last year to $754 this year, and increase of over 90%.

“It’s something we’re looking into,” Senator Counihan promised the other senators.

The Senate welcomed a new member during the session, electing Vinu Varghese as the graduate senator from the School of Business. In his appeal for support, Varghese said he was interested in increasing networking between student organizations, as well as between undergraduate and graduate students.

The Senate will have its final meeting before the new calendar year on December 2, the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving break.

Shankar and Her Many Strings Stun Lisner

BY WILLIAM BEALS

Sitar player Anoushkar Shankar performed Friday evening for a sold-out crowd at Lisner Auditorium.  The nearly two hour performance was highlighted by passionate performances by Shankar and her supporting band.

The performance included five other backing artists, who provided percussions, vocals, cello and piano.  The concert was to promote Shankar’s seventh studio album, “Traces of You”, her first album release since her 2011 Grammy nominated album, “Traveler.”

The concert began with a standing ovation and ended with cheers for an encore. The artists were happy to oblige. 

Shankar began training on the sitar with her father as a child. Consisting of a couple sessions per week, practice began at the age of ten. Shankar gave her first public performance at the age of 13 at Siri Fort in New Delhi. By the age of14, she was accompanying her father at concerts around the world. She signed her first record contract with Angel Records at the age of 16.

Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of famed sitar player Ravi Shankar, who gained international fame in the 1960s, and taught George Harrison of “The Beatles.”  Anoushka Shankar is also the half sister of singer songwriter Norah Jones.

WRGW News at 6: Monday, November 18th, 2013

WRGW News at 6: Monday, November 18th, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Many Faiths Come Together To Share a Meal

BY JESSE ZAPATA

The twelfth Annual Interfaith Dinner was held last Wednesday in the Marvin Center to highlight the various faith organizations on campus. Students who attended were treated to live music, food, guest speakers, and more during the annual event. Started after 9/11, the dinner strives to bring together students in solidarity against prejudice. Overall, the event was focused on examining faith’s common role in social justice and freedom. 

Tim Kane, associate director for inclusion initiatives, introduced the various performers and guests. Each campus faith organization was represented, and they also chose the speakers. The Voice Gospel Choir began the program with several hymns.

Speakers for the event included Muslim Student Association student Aabid Mohiuddin, Satyam representative Pavithra Chidambaram, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship choice Jon Yu, Allied in Pride representative Nicholas Gumas, GW Catholic student Olivia Bee, Jewish Student Association representative Joey Saban, and Kabir Gumer from the Sikh Student Association.

Each original speech was unique, yet they all taught lessons. Some were deeply rooted in the biblical tradition and quoted passages from the New Testament while others focused on a secular morality. Another defined the term “Tikkun Olam” as the Jewish faith's "one common goal of a better place for those who follow". A fellow speaker focused on the Sikh traditions of identity and scholastic petition. Each address, though different from the others, represented the night’s theme of the involvement of faith in freedom and social justice.

In closing, GW President Steven Knapp gave a brief history of the Interfaith Dinner and the university’s history of student led interfaith initiative. He also shared an excerpt of a letter written by George Washington to a Rhode Island Synagogue's congregation. The letter contained not just the theme quote of the evening, " to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance," but a larger statement about the power of diversity in bringing wisdom and prosperity to those who embrace it.

Interfaith Director for Satyam, the school's Hindu awareness organization and planner of the event Priya Yadav said she was happy with the dinner’s turnout. She added that the school had been working to “re-excite interest in interfaith and multicultural events.”

“We have so many [students] dedicated to their faith who want to let others know,” she said. 

Mobile Farmers Market Wins the 6th Annual Pitch George Elevator Competition

by Alex Nowakowski

On Saturday the 6^th Annual Pitch George Elevator Competition took place in Duques Hall. Fifty teams, composed of both undergraduate and graduate students, competed to win prizes of up to $2,000 and the opportunity to advance to the semi-final round of the GW Business Plan Competition.

John W. Rollins, director of the GW Business Plan Competition, said this year’s competition was the “best so far” and that he was “blown away” by the quality of the projects presented.

The six finalists for the undergraduate competition were the following: Mobile Farmers Market, JiYeon’s Tea Thermos, CARLOS dos, CarrierPigeon, Studentstart.it, and CarneAsada.  First place went to Mobile Farmers Market, 2^nd place went to CarneAsada and 3^rd place went to Studentstart.it. Tea Thermos won the fan favorite award.

Mobile Farmers Market, led by Lulu Ma, Felicity Xie and Lisetta Garcia, is a portable wireless app that allows entrepreneurs to sell their products where they please without being constrained by a central EBT system. Ma, Xie and Garcia came up with the idea due to the lack of mobility and flexibility for farmers to sell their products through electronic payments.

Cecilia Ramirez came in second place with her Carne Asada project—a proposal to establish the first Paraguayan restaurant in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Ramirez, a native Paraguayan, wanted to find a way to share her culture with the area and decided to create a “fast and casual” restaurant similar to that of Chipotle.

Studentstart.it founders Michael Rickert and Christina Nanfeldt came in third place. The two developed an idea to tap into the creative and entrepreneurial potential of the campus, seeking to provide students a way to get their projects off the ground. At the moment, the website is in development and the two are contemplating creating a mobile app.

Ji Yeon Jung won the fan favorite award for Tea Thermos, a prototype transparent thermos that allows for easy cleaning and is two layered to retain temperature better than the average thermos. Her next step is to find a possible manufacturer.

Dr. George Solomon of the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, said that the competition’s goals are to encourage research and entrepreneurship, reach out to the community, and develop research programs both within the school and outside. Solomon also noted that many of the students this year focused their business plans around apps and believes that it will be important to see if the trend continues. Above all, he said, it was important for students to develop projects they were passionate about. 

“Money follows passion, passion doesn’t follow money,” Solomon said.

The competition was set up by GW’s School of Business, School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Office of Entrepreneurship, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

DC says Farewell to Food Truck CapMac

By Emily Scott

After three years of service, the popular DC food truck CapMac declared Friday to be its final day on the road – a startling decision that rocked the worlds of some GW students who regularly incorporate CapMac as part of their diets.

For three years CapMac has been frequenting GW campus at Foggy Bottom, along with other popular food truck locations. The truck has a loyal following of customers who found it hard to say goodbye.

The social media response to CapMac’s closing was overwhelming – many customers tweeted their sad and distressed remarks, unsure of how they will carry on when their favorite food truck is no longer on the streets.

But chef and owner Brian Arnoff feels that this is the right time to close.

“We wanted to move on to other opportunities,” Arnoff said. “It’s been a really great run.”

CapMac has developed a strong GW following during their three years of operation.

“We really enjoyed our time at GW and getting to know all the students,” Arnoff said as he expressed his gratitude for all of CapMac’s loyal GW customers. “We made some great relationships with the students there.”

CapMac spent Thursday, its second-to-last day of service, on Foggy Bottom, and Friday at Farragut on the corner of 17^th and K.

When asked what is coming next after CapMac, Arnoff said, “I don’t have any firm plans yet. It’s the end of one chapter and hopefully the beginning of another one soon.”

WRGW News Interview with Women in Government

WRGW News Reporter Jenna Spoont interviewed Women in Government President Marjorie Maginn and Board Director, North Dakota Representative Kathy Hawken, to talk about the non-profit organization and why women should become active in politics.  

WRGW News Interview with Women in Government by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

WRGW News Interview with Thomas Friedman

On Wednesday night Lisner Auditorium hosted an event titled, "America's Changing Role in the World and How the Press Covers It." Following the event, WRGW News Reporter Jackson Richman spoke with one of the panelists, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, about the topic.

WRGW News Interview with Thomas Friedman by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

GW College Democrats Host Sen. Sanders

BY EMMA FRANKLIN

Photo courtesy of The Office of Senator Sanders

The GW College Democrats hosted Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) Wednesday night, in a one-hour conversation about major problems plaguing the United States today.

Before being elected to the senate in 2007, Sen. Sanders served as Mayor of Burlington, Vt. Sanders helped draft the provision of the Affordable Care Act that expands community health centers, and he serves on the Budget Conference Committee.

Sen. Sanders began by stating that, “Questions asked are more important than answers given. Anyone can give an answer to a question, but the question itself is the true measure of importance.”

He then asked students to identify the five most important issues in today’s politics. These issues included health care, education, climate change, social services, and national security.

Students shared their opinions surrounding the various topics, providing a young, fresh perspective to issues confounding many representatives. Sen. Sanders prompted explanations from students and thorough justification for their beliefs.

Following the discussion of major issues, Sen. Sanders asked students what they thought the trend in legislation since the Great Depression has been. Students responded that the trend has been to provide more equal opportunities for all citizens. Sen. Sanders also discussed the increase in inalienable rights such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid that go hand-in-hand with fundamental rights like freedom of speech.

Sen. Sanders ended the discussion with a question and answer session where students asked questions involving the Patriot Act, interest groups, and the role of government in the private sector.

“There are many people your age who think that politics is bullshit. And sometimes it is hard to argue with them. There are so many ugly things out there that it is very easy to understand why people…don’t like the political process and why so many don’t vote,” said Sanders at the conclusion of his address.

“There is no issue that impacts your life that doesn’t cross my desk, whether it is the affordability of college, whether you will have health care, the quality of the air that you breath, or the water that you drink... And if you don’t participate and actively help elect good people, the other side will win.”

The student opinion following the discussion was very positive. If the bursting conference room wasn’t enough of an indicator, the positive student feedback certainly was.

“Bernie Sanders was a phenomenal speaker. He didn't lecture the audience, but rather engaged in a discussion,” said freshman Lauren Hoffman. “Bernie Sanders gained my respect by saying what he believed in, no matter how radical it may be.”

Sanders is the longest-serving independent congressman in United States history.