Recently, GW began handing out new GWorld cards, which featured a larger GW logo, a spiffy hologram, and a new tap-and-enter system as opposed to the previously-used swipecard system. This tap-and-enter approach is also used by DC metro's SmarTrip cards, leading some students to advocate putting SmarTrip access on the new GWorld cards.
"It would make it so much more convenient for GW students who have to ride the metro frequently," said Leire Ariz who, along with Tsubasa Suruga, created a Facebook group titled "We Want SmarTrip on Our GWorld Cards!" which Ariz says has amassed over 300 members within three weeks.
"It's clear that a lot of students want this," she said. "It would just make getting around DC that much easier."
Suruga pointed out that American University has already unveiled a new student ID card that includes SmarTrip access. The Eagle reports that 300 of these new AU ID-SmarTrip hybrid cards have been passed out already, with AU Student Government President Andy MacCracken saying that the program has "so far had a 100 percent success rate."
While no one from the GWorld Card Office could be reached for comment by press time, incoming Student Association President Jason Lifton mentioned in the WRGW-SA Debate that he had previously spoken with members of the GW administration about the possibility of putting SmarTrip on GWorld, but it did not seem possible at the time.
For students here at The George Washington University, this past week has been very unusual. Instead of the normal “Reading Week,” where students are supposed to catch up on their reading and prepare for finals, many have had class. As part of the makeup schedule for time missed because of the “Snow Week” in February, some students even have class on Saturday!
“It’s terrible… I wish I could have a whole week to get prepared for papers and final exams,” Peng Fan, a disappointed freshman stated. He emphasized the fact that the teachers didn’t do much teaching, but rather reviewed instead.
Erika Grohoski concurs with Peng. “It’s been hell,” she stated. “Ridiculously crazy.” She explained that she has had two papers due this week and has four finals next week, but not enough time to study for them.
Vignyanand Penumatcha feels differently though. “It hasn’t affected me much actually,” he explained. “I’ve been regularly keeping up [with my work].”
Neither has Sara Saab felt any effects; she didn’t have any makeup classes this week.
Other students, like Tanuj Joshi, Brenna Markle, and Mike Searway, however, are more ambivalent.
“It sucks,” Tanuj explained. “But you get to learn new things, so you have a reason to party.”
For Brenna Markle “it hasn’t been too bad” because she has “no makeup classes on Saturday,” but she admits that this makeup week was “not the best plan.” Though she is “a little upset,” she’s “accepted it” already and has moved on. She is going to do all her studying this weekend.
For Mike Searway the only problem has been “a lot of reading” and having “the same class three days in a row,” though he too admits it hasn’t affected him much.
Though there are mixed feelings about the makeup week, it’s clear that this week is much less popular among students than the Snowmaggedon.
“It’s terrible… I wish I could have a whole week to get prepared for papers and final exams,” Peng Fan, a disappointed freshman stated. He emphasized the fact that the teachers didn’t do much teaching, but rather reviewed instead.
Erika Grohoski concurs with Peng. “It’s been hell,” she stated. “Ridiculously crazy.” She explained that she has had two papers due this week and has four finals next week, but not enough time to study for them.
Vignyanand Penumatcha feels differently though. “It hasn’t affected me much actually,” he explained. “I’ve been regularly keeping up [with my work].”
Neither has Sara Saab felt any effects; she didn’t have any makeup classes this week.
Other students, like Tanuj Joshi, Brenna Markle, and Mike Searway, however, are more ambivalent.
“It sucks,” Tanuj explained. “But you get to learn new things, so you have a reason to party.”
For Brenna Markle “it hasn’t been too bad” because she has “no makeup classes on Saturday,” but she admits that this makeup week was “not the best plan.” Though she is “a little upset,” she’s “accepted it” already and has moved on. She is going to do all her studying this weekend.
For Mike Searway the only problem has been “a lot of reading” and having “the same class three days in a row,” though he too admits it hasn’t affected him much.
Though there are mixed feelings about the makeup week, it’s clear that this week is much less popular among students than the Snowmaggedon.
On Thursday night, GW's Project Nur, a student-led initiative of the American Islamic Congress, and the Al Waref Institute hosted three women activists to discuss women's rights abuses in the Arab Gulf.
It was a time to express "the voice for the girls who are oppressed in my country," said Maliha Ahmed Alshehab, one of the night's speakers and a Saudi feminist and activist, "To educate what they see as oppressive nature onto women in our countries."
Held in the Marvin Center, young female students made up a majority of the audience along with a sprinkle of those who came, ranging one from George Mason University to the Iraq Embassy.
Each speaker spoke about her particular country's situation with its women population.
Alshehab told of women's harsh reality in Saudi Arabia. Being there is no minimum age for girls to be married in Saudi Arabia, exploitation and abuse of young women is common in these marriages. The relationship between a man and a woman is solely "guardianship." The "guardian system," which Alshehab argues, handicaps Saudi Arabian women, is "the woman needing a male shadow in all stages of her life or losing her personhood."
The societal condition of women in Oman is a "better situation than in Saudi Arabia," but women do not have the freedoms that women have in the United States. There is currently no law dealing with domestic violence, which is difficult when living in a male-dominated society such as those in the Arab Gulf.
The speakers opened up the floor for Q & A after the lecture where discussion of the politics and future of women in the Arab Gulf region took place.
It was a time to express "the voice for the girls who are oppressed in my country," said Maliha Ahmed Alshehab, one of the night's speakers and a Saudi feminist and activist, "To educate what they see as oppressive nature onto women in our countries."
Held in the Marvin Center, young female students made up a majority of the audience along with a sprinkle of those who came, ranging one from George Mason University to the Iraq Embassy.
Each speaker spoke about her particular country's situation with its women population.
Alshehab told of women's harsh reality in Saudi Arabia. Being there is no minimum age for girls to be married in Saudi Arabia, exploitation and abuse of young women is common in these marriages. The relationship between a man and a woman is solely "guardianship." The "guardian system," which Alshehab argues, handicaps Saudi Arabian women, is "the woman needing a male shadow in all stages of her life or losing her personhood."
The societal condition of women in Oman is a "better situation than in Saudi Arabia," but women do not have the freedoms that women have in the United States. There is currently no law dealing with domestic violence, which is difficult when living in a male-dominated society such as those in the Arab Gulf.
The speakers opened up the floor for Q & A after the lecture where discussion of the politics and future of women in the Arab Gulf region took place.
The top seeded Washington Capitals lost in Game 7 of the first round against the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 2-1. After a stellar season, the Caps' bid for the Stanley Cup championship has ended much earlier than most had anticipated. After being up 3 games to 1 in the series, the Caps lost 3 games in a row.
Marc-Andre Bergeron put the Canadiens on the score board first with a power play goal with seconds left in the first period. After a scoreless second period, the Canadiens extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Dominic Moore. The Capitals were finally able to get onto the board with a goal from Brooks Laichs with just under four minutes left in regulation. While the Caps had scoring opportunities late, they were unable to get anything going, primarily due to the efforts of Canadien goalie, Jaroslav Halak. He saved 41 shots this game.
The Capitals' offense was shut down for much of the last two games. Alex Ovechkin ended the series with 5 goals and 4 assists, but was scoreless in the last two games. Alexander Semin, who scored 40 goals during the regular season, did not score a single goal during the series.
The Montreal Canadiens will move on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Marc-Andre Bergeron put the Canadiens on the score board first with a power play goal with seconds left in the first period. After a scoreless second period, the Canadiens extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Dominic Moore. The Capitals were finally able to get onto the board with a goal from Brooks Laichs with just under four minutes left in regulation. While the Caps had scoring opportunities late, they were unable to get anything going, primarily due to the efforts of Canadien goalie, Jaroslav Halak. He saved 41 shots this game.
The Capitals' offense was shut down for much of the last two games. Alex Ovechkin ended the series with 5 goals and 4 assists, but was scoreless in the last two games. Alexander Semin, who scored 40 goals during the regular season, did not score a single goal during the series.
The Montreal Canadiens will move on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Extended study hours for finals started on Tuesday and will continue until May 11th.
In effort to raise more awareness about what space is open during exam periods and extend hours in desired study destinations, the university implemented the "Study Zone" initiative. For the first time, Study Zone has teamed up with Sodexo to hold late night hours in Wendy's, Freshens, WOW Cafe and Wingery as well as G-Dub Java on both the Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom Campuses. The dining locations will be open till 2 a.m. on weekdays.
Late night study hours will be held in Duques Hall, the Fishbowl, the Marvin Center on the Foggy Bottom Campus and Eckles Auditorium, Eckles Library, Ames Pub and G-Dub Java Lounge on the Mount Vernon Campus.
Go to http://living.gwu.edu/studyzone for specific times and locations.
In effort to raise more awareness about what space is open during exam periods and extend hours in desired study destinations, the university implemented the "Study Zone" initiative. For the first time, Study Zone has teamed up with Sodexo to hold late night hours in Wendy's, Freshens, WOW Cafe and Wingery as well as G-Dub Java on both the Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom Campuses. The dining locations will be open till 2 a.m. on weekdays.
Late night study hours will be held in Duques Hall, the Fishbowl, the Marvin Center on the Foggy Bottom Campus and Eckles Auditorium, Eckles Library, Ames Pub and G-Dub Java Lounge on the Mount Vernon Campus.
Go to http://living.gwu.edu/studyzone for specific times and locations.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of students flocked to the Mount Vernon campus for the annual Fountain Fling event, despite cloudy skies and rain.
The event was moved to the Lloyd gym due to the weather, but was still a great success with student performances, giveaways and a concert by the well-known alternative rock band State Radio. Students were crowd surfing and enjoying the band that recently had three sold-out concerts at the 9:30 club and opened for Dave Matthews Band in 2008.
GW was the last of seven stops on the Save My Oceans tour, which advocates against global warming, plastic pollution and overfishing. The “bag monster” also made an appearance at the event. The Bag Monster ‘attacks’ on college campuses to educate about the importance of reusable bags and the amount of unnecessary waste created from single-use plastic bags. The costume is made up of 500 single-use plastic bags and represents the amount an average person uses in one year in the United States.
The Surfrider Foundation was also in attendance to spread awareness about the protection and enhancement of the world’s oceans. Brita water filters and reusable water bottles were given out along with free food and Fountain Fling t-shirts.
“I am very impressed with the turn-out, especially considering the rain and moving of locations,” said Alyssa Abraham, who lives on the Vern and helped plan the event with Program Board. “It shows that GW students are willing to make the trip to the Vern if there is a good reason to.”
For more information on the Save My Oceans film, book and concert tour, go to www.savemyoceans.com
In response to two pieces of legislation, one making its way through Congress and the other recently signed into law in Arizona, the G.W. College Republicans and College Democrats produced an official reaction on Friday.
Both the financial regulatory reform bill, backed by Congressional Democrats, and the illegal immigration bill signed into law by Republican Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, have proved to be hot button issues in terms of the national political attention, dividing public opinion.
Michael Garber, the CD communications director, explained that it is a “universally accepted necessity” that this country needs financial regulation, stating that it’s important for the federal government to reign in bad practices such as derivatives trading.
“The actions of Wall Street, hurt main street,” Garber said, noting the CDs full support for Sen. Dodd’s bill.
Sinead Casey, the CRs' director of public relations, disagrees. While her organization does advocate for reform, “the problem is-we need smart regulation, not necessarily more regulation,” citing the fact that expanding government would do little to prevent another collapse.
Specifically, she disagrees with “the $50 billion ‘bailout’ fund,” and emphasized the idea that businesses need to possess “the freedom to fail.”
In terms of the Arizona immigration bill, which expands police power to question anyone believed to be an illegal immigrant, Garber explained, “it seems like it basically legalizes discrimination.”
Though illegal immigration is a serious policy that needs to be addressed, the CDs feel it needs to be resolved in a responsible manner, and that targeting people based on how they look is not an acceptable method.
“[Since] not all illegals are from Mexico [or are Hispanic], why are they only targeted?" Garber asked.
Though the College Republicans have not taken an official position on the new law, Casey said that “in accordance with Republican core principles, we support the state of Arizona when there is a lack of leadership on Capital Hill regarding illegal immigration.”
She emphasized the fact that the Democratic Congress needs to address the issue, instead “of only dealing with one issue at a time,” such as healthcare reform or financial regulation.
Both the financial regulatory reform bill, backed by Congressional Democrats, and the illegal immigration bill signed into law by Republican Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, have proved to be hot button issues in terms of the national political attention, dividing public opinion.
Michael Garber, the CD communications director, explained that it is a “universally accepted necessity” that this country needs financial regulation, stating that it’s important for the federal government to reign in bad practices such as derivatives trading.
“The actions of Wall Street, hurt main street,” Garber said, noting the CDs full support for Sen. Dodd’s bill.
Sinead Casey, the CRs' director of public relations, disagrees. While her organization does advocate for reform, “the problem is-we need smart regulation, not necessarily more regulation,” citing the fact that expanding government would do little to prevent another collapse.
Specifically, she disagrees with “the $50 billion ‘bailout’ fund,” and emphasized the idea that businesses need to possess “the freedom to fail.”
In terms of the Arizona immigration bill, which expands police power to question anyone believed to be an illegal immigrant, Garber explained, “it seems like it basically legalizes discrimination.”
Though illegal immigration is a serious policy that needs to be addressed, the CDs feel it needs to be resolved in a responsible manner, and that targeting people based on how they look is not an acceptable method.
“[Since] not all illegals are from Mexico [or are Hispanic], why are they only targeted?" Garber asked.
Though the College Republicans have not taken an official position on the new law, Casey said that “in accordance with Republican core principles, we support the state of Arizona when there is a lack of leadership on Capital Hill regarding illegal immigration.”
She emphasized the fact that the Democratic Congress needs to address the issue, instead “of only dealing with one issue at a time,” such as healthcare reform or financial regulation.
When streets are blocked off around GW's campus, students can typically assume that a dignitary - perhaps the President - is visiting.
But on Thursday afternoon, a roped-off H Street was in fact playing host to the University Counseling Center's annual Chalk-In. The event, intended to raise UCC's profile on campus, provided boxes and boxes of chalk for students to draw with. H Street and its accompanying sidewalks were filled with images and writing, from butterflies to shout-outs - even a periodic table - in homage to students' younger years.
The event coincided with other events around campus, including the Program Board's Arts Festival adjacent to H Street in Kogan Plaza and Earth Day celebrations on University Yard. The Arts Festival featured free hotdogs, hamburgers and popcorn, while environmentally-themed organizations like Green GW and GW Trails promoted their organizations at the Earth Day event.
Check out our Flickr stream for more colorful images from the event!
WMATA has announced that customers should again expect extensive delays this weekend due to track maintenance. The work on a switch replacement at the Rosslyn station will continue, causing delays of up to 40 minutes on the Blue and Orange lines for customers traveling in the direction of Franconia-Springfield and Vienna, notably disrupting service to Pentagon City from Foggy Bottom.
Trains will be single-tracking in two locations on the Red line, with trains delayed up to 30 minutes between Medical Center and Friendship heights, along with Rhode Island and New York Avenue Stations.
(Photo Credit: Todd Franson)A WRGW News EXCLUSIVE: Fashion designer, "Project Runway" alumnus and prominent HIV/AIDS activist Jack Mackenroth sits down with WRGW's Jared Pliner for a conversation on headlining the 2010 Whitman-Walker Spring Gala on the National Mall, the ordeal of living with HIV and what people can do in the global fight to find a cure.
You don't want to miss this special edition of WRGW's flagship interview program "News in Depth," THIS SUNDAY from 12 to 1 p.m. on gwradio.com and campus cable channel 22!
