Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who passed away on Tuesday night after a long battle with brain cancer, appeared in the pages of The Hatchet many times over his long career in public service.

Recently, he was honored with the Cancer Compassion Award by the University at the Sixth Annual Cancer Gala in April “for his involvement in pushing for affordable health care on Capitol Hill.” He had also been approved to receive an honorary degree from the University by the Board of Trustees in February.

In 2007, many GW and other D.C. college students were on hand to witness Kennedy, who was 77 when he died, endorse then-presidential candidate Barack Obama at American University.

Kennedy made Hatchet headlines in 2004, when he called on GW to increase employees salaries and benefits at a rally in Kogan Plaza. He told the students “I commend students because you are on the frontlines of social justice and social fairness in this country.”