WRGW’s Newsblog

Last Thursday, Delta Tau Delta officially made its return to GW with its pledging ceremony for the new pledge class. Delta Tau Delta left GW four years ago following hazing incidents. The national chapter sent men to restart the colony once all of the former members had graduated. Advertising simply by word-of-mouth, the use of the Greek society, and tabling at the Marvin Center, there was a total of 57 pledges for the fraternity’s return. The executive board of the fraternity was chosen prior to the pledging ceremony, and will now take over as the ones running the fraternity, with assistance from a member from the national chapter.

Also new to campus this semester is Chi Omega Fraternity. The sorority is recolonizing on GW’s campus after a 40 year absence. The sorority’s pledging process began over a month ago with 114 girls. Chi Omega is the largest women’s organization in the country, even larger than the Girl Scouts, with 1 of every 4 Greek women being a Chi Omega.

The return of these two Greek organizations along with a general higher interest in Greek life on campus, raised the percentage of GW students involved in Greek life from 19% to 21% this academic year.

-Zahin Hasan

Over a dozen schools were represented this past Saturday at the Battle of the MSAs, a Jeopardy-like competition in which the Muslim Student Associations of DC area schools competed.

Fourteen schools were in attendance, forming seven rounds of competition. American University, who went on to the final round of the event, eliminated GW in the first round with a surprise come-back. The winner of the event was George Mason University. Their team won a trophy, team medals, and a fully sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage, which was donated as a prize by an anonymous donor.

First come fist serve seems like kindergarten etiquette – the way that things have always been done. Unfortunately so is sharing and it may affect your chance of getting inauguration tickets.

Washington is a place where relationships play a major factor in getting things done. With tickets being distributed through Congressional offices some worry that legislatures will begin dolling out tickets to friends, family, colleagues, retired officials and notable figures before the general public has a shot. Congressman are not required to disclose who the tickets are given to.

240,000 free tickets will be distributed to the 535 members of Congress with each office receiving between 200 and 500 tickets. Hotel rooms within 150 miles of Washington are booked, the stages are in construction, and officials are preparing for upwards of 4 million people to pack the length of the National Mall. But considering Washingtonian culture it will be difficult for many to receive tickets – and being first may be meaningless as some offices are considering lotteries. Others may reduce the five ticket maximum per family. Some have stopped taking requests all together including D.C. Congressman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

And don’t even think you’ll get close to the festivities. 1,600 of the 240,000 tickets will allow access to the areas closest the stage. According to the Washington Post power figures like Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, Medal of Honor winners, and federal judges will be filling these seats. Others will line the Mall and watch the swearing in over giant screens.

-Jesse Regis

First up from Lafayette Hall, an argument between two roommates turned physical. One of the individuals contacted UPD to report that his roommate had hit him. The victim is not filing charges, and the case has been referred to SJS.

In Ivory Tower, more roommate problems necessitating police involvement, this time between two female students. The two students were once roommates, but one had previously moved out. She filed a complaint with UPD for harassment.

Multiple cases of vandalism were reported on campus: first, in ivory tower, several ceiling tiles were broken by a moving crew. The parking garage entrance gate to the Marvin center parking garage was again reported broken, likely damage from a car entering the garage. And finally in Thurston, officers responded to a report of vandalism to find that a whole fire extinguisher case had been completely ripped out of the wall.

And last, an assault case from Thurston Hall. A female student, not a resident of Thurston, reported that she was assaulted while sleeping. The assault was physical but not sexual; apparently, a few male students pulled a prank on the girl but it was not taken that way.

-Jenn Neuner

As our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. is a prime setting for a wide range of protests. This past Saturday was no different, as multiple protest groups gathered on and around the National Mall under cloudy skies, armed with signs and chants.

According to the Associated Press, some of the causes were Tibetan Independence, Chinese Human Rights policies, and even pro-Chinese government. But the most notable crowds were in protest of the G-20 summit and the passing of Proposition 8 in California, gathering hundreds of protesters.

G-20 is a summit that is held to discuss economic growth and stability of the financial system worldwide. Protesters congregated in front of multiple locations, including the world bank building and the National Museum Building, site of the summit. They held signs denouncing capitalism and the prioritization of free trade over free people.

Proposition 8 is an amendment passed by ballot vote in the State of California that restricts the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The protesters planned to go from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and then on to the White House, despite the morning rainstorms. However, the weather effectively ruined the strength of the protests as the rain turned into torrential downpour come afternoon. Many people ran for cover or returned home to get dry. But a legion of the most dedicated remained through the afternoon to march through the Mall, signs and umbrellas in hand, fighting through the rain for equal rights for all.

-Jenn Neuner

The SA is considering putting rules into place to limit conflicts of interest between senate legislation and student organizations that senators are involved with.

The Senate met last night at 9:00pm in the Marvin Center for its 5th regular meeting, to consider SB-F08-04, a bill sponsored by Steve Glatter that would limit the ability of senators to participate in debate regarding bills in which they have a perceived conflict of interest. The bill posits that “voting members of the student association senate shall not participate in debate of bills or amendments particular to the appropriations for student organizations of which they are an executive financial officer.”

Also, the Office of the EVP has created a survey of student concerns going into Thanksgiving Break, which consists of only 4 questions and can be accessed via the SA homepage. The survey allows you to rate various aspects of life at GW, such as costs, entertainment options, housing, campus spirit, athletic events, dining hours, cost of food, faculty and internship availability, as well as overall academic experience.

-Monika Wysocki

Race relations in America in the wake of the 2008 presidential election…

That was the topic this past Sunday on WRGW’s News In-Depth with Jared Pliner.

The exclusive guest was Michael Tapscott, Director of the Multicultural Student Services Center here at the George Washington University.

For nearly an hour, Tapscott answered questions and provided insight on the significance of Barack Obama’s election to African Americans, what milestones the victory marks, and what work still has to be done.

On the broader implications of President-Elect Obama’s journey to the White House, Tapscott noted:

“It’s a sign of hope, it’s a sign of prospect and it’s also a sign of growth in American culture and American society, in terms of how it embraces race and difference.”

When asked what Dr. King would have said had he lived to see the outcome of November 4^th, Tapscott responded that he would have been proud but cautious: “This is not the mountaintop. The mountaintop is still somewhere down the road.”

For more information on the GW Multicultural Student Services Center and its programming you can visit its website at gwired.gwu.edu/mssc.

And for the very best in college radio, you can listen to WRGW’s news in depth, Sundays from 12 to 1 pm with Jesse Regis and Jared Pliner.

-Jared Pliner

Last Saturday, the Indian Students Association presented its annual Diwali show in the Continental Ballroom at the Marvin Center.  Accompanied by a buffet of free Indian cuisine, the Indian Students Association showcased classical and modern Indian dance, choreographed by the students themselves and presented before a large, enthusiastic audience. 

Acts included Fresh Kids on the Block – a medley presented by the freshmen of the ISA, Bhangra, a famous genre of Indian dance that has folk routes and can be seen in different styles all over the globe, and a skit performed by the members of the ISA, depicting an Indian exchange student who falls in love with a girl while working his UPD shift at a dorm.  GW graduate students performed in the showcase as well. 

Also present at the Diwali show was the Caribbean Students Association, who performed and gave a presentation on their club.  CSA president Jodian Thomas said she looks forward to what she hopes will be a “long friendship with the Indian Students Association.” 

After the showcase, raffle tickets were drawn, and the winners were awarded gift cards to the GW bookstore and a box of Belgian chocolates.  Students then migrated to Patcha, a club on P Street that went 18+ for the night, to finish out the evening’s festivities.

-Alex Laska

Up first, a female unaffiliated with GW was charged with simple assault after University Police officers stopped her on the street. The individual was having difficulty walking as she made her way down the middle of the street as a result of her intoxicated state. She became disorderly and assaulted the officers, who brought her to the hospital to be treated and then transported her to Metro Police 2^nd District.

A drug case in Fulbright Hall: UPD officers responded to a noise complaint, and entered the room in question after the occupants didn’t respond to a knock. The officers witnessed marijuana in plain view, and therefore contacted the community director on call to perform an administrative search. Among the items confiscated were 9.3 grams for marijuana and sleeves used for manufacturing fake IDs. The three male students occupying the room were all taken to Metro Police 2^nd District.

Another noise complaint resulted in drug confiscation in West End Hall; officers observed 5 individuals drinking and smelled marijuana. A community director’s administrative search resulted in the confiscation of approximately 4 grams of marijuana.

And finally from Mitchell Hall, the 7 Eleven reported a disorderly person. The individual was harassing patrons and placing items in his pockets without paying. It was determined that the man had previously been barred from campus three times. He was arrested for trespassing.

-Jenn Neuner