The Hatchet’s editorial board calls on the University to back up its pro-community service rhetoric with more substantial support to the service community.

On Sunday, May 16, the GW class of 2010 will become the third graduating class at GW to hear a first lady speak at Commencement – but they will be the first graduates to have worked specifically for that honor. Perhaps the biggest story of this academic year has been Michelle Obama’s service challenge to the GW community, and having admirably surpassed the goal of 100,000 hours well before the May 1 deadline, GW’s commitment to service is in many ways both permeating and unambiguous. While this perception correctly applies to much of the GW community and the service challenge, we are disappointed that on more than one occasion throughout the challenge, the University’s actions did not match its expressed strong support for community service.