SA revamps Academic Update

The student-run Academic Update, which provides students with information about classes and professors, has become more complicated this semester, said Student Association Vice President for Academic Affairs Lonnie Giamela.

The changes to the Academic Update, the only student-run evaluation on campus, come with the intention of providing more information to students before they register next fall.

In the past, students were asked to give yes and no answers when evaluating professors and classes. The new survey, however, asks students to indicate whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree.

Also included in the Academic Update, which will be released in February, is objective information provided by professors, such as the number of tests given and papers assigned.

Giamela said the changes will benefit students and he hopes the professors and students will respond to the surveys.

“I hope professors and students will take this with the seriousness they should by answering the questions and returning the surveys,” he said.

-Theresa Crapanzano

Webmail crash affects 9,000 users

About 9,000 active users on GW’s Webmail system lost their personal address books and signature files when the system’s disk unexpectedly crashed Monday, said Brad Reese, director of the Computer Information and Resource Center.

Reese said the disk crashed at 4 p.m. from damage to its physical surface, which is not uncommon. A new disk was installed by Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

“Unfortunately, the address books and signature files were wiped out permanently,” Reese said.

CIRC has taken steps to prevent the problem from happening in the future, Reese said.

The newly installed disk will have a live backup, which will record information changes on two disks simultaneously. If one disk crashes, information can be retrieved on the backup disk, Reese said.

CIRC posted a message for users on the Webmail homepage, apologizing to students for the “catastrophic hardware failure.”

Reese said Webmail was the only server affected by the crash.

-Kathryn Maese

J Street breakfast bar extends hours during finals

Students studying for finals can take a late-night coffee break or satisfy an early morning craving with newly extended hours in Dawn’s Best breakfast bar, said Chris Voss, head of the Student Association’s Dining Services Commission.

Dining Services decided to extend hours from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Sunday until Dec. 16. Dawn’s Best will offer special low-priced meal combos.

“This was done as a relief for students who are studying during finals and want a more relaxed environment,” Voss said.

Voss said the goal is to run Dawn’s Best like an International House of Pancakes, with items from Viva Java available as well.

Student feedback has been positive for extending the hours in the breakfast bar, and Voss said the practice “might end up being a tradition.”

Students can pay for meals with points, debit dollars and cash. Voss said Burger King also will offer students a 10 percent discount.

-Kathryn Maese