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The GW Hatchet
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet
Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet
All content by Abby Kennedy
Students sampled cultural cuisines like Armenian lahmacun, a spiced pizza-like dish topped with minced meat and vegetables, at the event.

International Students Association hosts first World Food Night after two-year delay

By Abby Kennedy and Faith Wardwell
April 14, 2022
The Disabled Students Collective received emails from students concerned the decision to lift the mandate came too soon because they are still at high risk for COVID-19.

Students largely stick to mask-wearing despite lifted mandate

By Abby Kennedy and Faith Wardwell
April 11, 2022
Students will still be required to receive COVID-19 tests every 15 days, except for those with exceptions to GW’s vaccine mandate, who test weekly.

Officials to drop mask mandate Monday

By Isha Trivedi, Nick Pasion and Abby Kennedy
April 2, 2022
GW's team was ranked fifth in the nation, a 20-place jump from last year’s ranking.

Model UN team reaches fifth place national ranking, highest in organization history

By Abby Kennedy and Lauren Grauer
March 28, 2022
Protesters have gathered at the White House and other locations throughout D.C. since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

‘Pray for us’: Ukrainian civilians, refugees rely on GW community for aid, support

By Abby Kennedy
March 28, 2022
The club’s general body meeting on Tuesday included a Kahoot game, pierogi and Polish cookies called Delicje.

Polish Culture Club debuts with plans for group dinners, embassy visit

By Abby Kennedy
March 7, 2022
The Disability Support Services' location in Rome Hall.

Students with disability accommodations detail challenges navigating GW

By Abby Kennedy
March 7, 2022
Townhouses line F Street on Fraternity Row.

Spring fraternity recruitment totals dip from fall rush, remain lower than pre-pandemic levels

By Abby Kennedy
February 28, 2022
Residents were seen re-entering the building at about 10:45 a.m.

D.C. FEMS responds to fire at Residences on the Avenue apartments

By Isha Trivedi, Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
February 25, 2022
Juniors Funcia Jean-Louis (left) and Kiera Sona (right) are co-chairing this year’s Black Heritage Celebration, which runs through the end of February.

BHC highlights Black community’s campus ‘homecoming’ following GW reopening

By Abby Kennedy
February 14, 2022
Wrighton has apologized for directing officials to take down the posters, saying he responded “hastily” without understanding the posters’ context.

Removal of posters criticizing Chinese government gains national attention

By Zach Blackburn and Abby Kennedy
February 10, 2022
For many students, poor internet connections and feelings of isolation are pushing them to find housing in D.C.

Officials are not investigating posters criticizing Chinese government, Wrighton says

By Zach Blackburn and Abby Kennedy
February 7, 2022
Residence Hall Association President Vero Famadas said the RHA plans to establish hall councils in nontraditional residence halls, including Strong Hall — which houses the Chi Omega, Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta sororities.

Officials record small uptick in Panhel recruitment numbers

By Abby Kennedy
January 31, 2022
GW's Hillel building on the corner of 23rd and H streets in August 2021.

Students continue community service efforts virtually amid disrupted campus operations

By Abby Kennedy and Lauren Grauer
January 31, 2022
GW College Republicans organized a group of students to attend this year’s march.

With Roe v. Wade’s fate looming, thousands gather with renewed hope at March for Life

By Lauren Sforza, Sejal Govindarao and Abby Kennedy
January 24, 2022
The fraternity does not currently have plans to house members on campus but may do so in the future.

Phi Gamma Delta joins GW this spring as newest social fraternity

By Abby Kennedy
January 18, 2022
Some students said they pushed back their return to campus because they had tested positive for COVID-19 or wanted to avoid getting sick.

Students delay campus return over concerns of COVID-19 transmission, shutdowns

By Abby Kennedy and Leo Kehagias
January 18, 2022
Many Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council chapters were forced to cancel philanthropic events this spring but began new fundraising efforts for people impacted by COVID-19.

Spring sorority held virtually amid surge in COVID-19 cases

By Abby Kennedy
January 7, 2022

District tops US with highest average rate of daily COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations

By Abby Kennedy
December 29, 2021
The Clothesline Project originally started in 1990 when a woman in Massachusetts protested the fact that while 58,000 soldiers died in the Vietnam War, 51,000 women were killed by domestic and sexual abusers.

Students hang t-shirts in Kogan Plaza to raise awareness about Title IX Office concerns

By Abby Kennedy
December 11, 2021
Student leaders had alleged the University’s response to Title IX violations failed to protect sexual assault survivors from their abusers.

GW reforms Title IX support services with expanded training, staff roles

By Abby Kennedy
December 6, 2021
Students are set to travel home in the coming days as the threat of the Omicron variant looms.

Boosters, precautions provide confidence for holiday travel as Omicron spreads: students

By Abby Kennedy
December 6, 2021
Madison Jennings, the president of the collective, said members have engaged in meetings with DSS to discuss how to teach professors to use appropriate language when speaking about students with disabilities.

Disabled Students Collective relaunches with educational events

By Abby Kennedy and Lauren Grauer
December 6, 2021
Petty said her stay in District House with her dog Jazz has already enabled her to forge connections with students at events and informal meetings.

Petty moves into District House to foster community following residential reshuffle

By Abby Kennedy
November 22, 2021
The organization has made eight demands of GW, including an apology and additional training.

Complaint alleges University discriminated against Palestinian students

By Isha Trivedi and Abby Kennedy
November 18, 2021
The Board of Trustees voted last year to divest GW’s endowment from companies that focus on fossil fuel extraction following pressure from Sunrise GW and other students.

Sunrise GW launches campaign demanding ban on fossil funding

By Abby Kennedy
November 18, 2021
Organizers said the event enabled students celebrating Diwali away from home to celebrate with other Hindu students.

Student leaders host Diwali celebration after pandemic derailed last year’s plans

By Abby Kennedy
November 15, 2021
About 400 students processed through campus last Monday after news spread about the desecration of a Torah scroll at Tau Kappa Epsilon’s on-campus house.

Timeline: How recent antisemitism has affected GW community

By Abby Kennedy
November 8, 2021
University President Thomas LeBlanc denounced the incident as a “despicable” act of antisemitsm.

‘Traumatic’: TKE members band together in wake of Torah scroll desecration

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
November 8, 2021
Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency in D.C. Wednesday, enabling her to order mandatory medical quarantines and ban price gouging on medical supplies.

Bowser announces re-election bid for 2022 mayoral race

By Michelle Vassilev and Abby Kennedy
November 7, 2021
GW Hillel has held events and opened their doors for the Jewish community on campus after the desecration of a Torah scroll over the weekend.

Jewish student organizations unite to process impact of Torah desecration

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
November 4, 2021
Speakers and organizers of the event said they were moved by the “historic” turnout of students at the event – a sign of hope that GW is still a safe place for the Jewish community. 

Students denounce Torah desecration, call upon unity during campus procession

By Lauren Sforza, Sejal Govindarao and Abby Kennedy
November 2, 2021

Officials increase police presence around Tau Kappa Epsilon house

By Abby Kennedy
November 1, 2021
Residence Hall Association President Vero Famadas said the RHA plans to establish hall councils in nontraditional residence halls, including Strong Hall — which houses the Chi Omega, Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta sororities.

Fall IFC recruitment rebounds to pre-pandemic totals

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
October 21, 2021
Omar Williams, who MPD said had no fixed address, was also charged with robbery, simple assault and theft in connection with two other off-campus incidents.

MPD arrests suspect in G Street Garage assault

By Zach Blackburn, Abby Kennedy and Eddie Herzig
October 20, 2021
Bishop Walton, the president of the Williams House, said students accepted to the house demonstrate strong leadership skills on campus.

The George Washington Williams House reopens to welcome Black community back to campus

By Abby Kennedy and Leo Kehagias
October 11, 2021
About 30 members of Chi Omega, including roughly 10 who live in Strong Hall, were terminated from the sorority Monday.

Officials temporarily expand Greek life fall rush to freshmen following isolating year

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
October 7, 2021
The suspect, described as a Black male with a slim build and a goatee, assaulted the staff member with a long nail with the intent to commit first degree sexual abuse offense Monday.

Staff member suffers serious injuries after assault in G Street Garage

By Isha Trivedi, Zach Blackburn, Nick Pasion and Abby Kennedy
October 4, 2021
Students silently protested with their signs behind Commencement, facing the setup on the National Mall.

Students silently protest officials’ alleged mishandling of sexual assault cases

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
October 4, 2021
In response to GW's statement, the @gwprotectsrapists account released a statement Tuesday saying that their demand was "completely neglected."

Student leaders allege Title IX office has mishandled sexual assault cases

By Abby Kennedy
October 4, 2021
In response to GW's statement, the @gwprotectsrapists account released a statement Tuesday saying that their demand was "completely neglected."

Officials respond to alleged mishandling of sexual assault cases

By Abby Kennedy
September 30, 2021
Officials announced in February they were canceling the Resident Adviser program after pausing it during the pandemic.

Residential community slow to return after officials ended RA program, students say

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
September 27, 2021
The Hindu Student Association will host its first welcome event, themed “A Night in Bombay,” on Sunday in the University Student Center.

Student leaders return to in-person programming following University’s reopening

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
September 20, 2021
Wrighton will take the helm of GW's administration after a period marked by rising tensions between officials and the student body.

Students hope Wrighton will enhance administrative transparency

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
September 20, 2021
At least two current GW students graduated from a small Louisiana school that came under fire last week for allegedly doctoring and falsifying students’ transcripts and college applications.

Officials require campus visitors to present proof of vaccination, negative COVID-19 test

By Abby Kennedy
September 17, 2021
Shariq Farooqi, the co-president of SAS, said the organization plans to host a donation drive for Afghan refugees in the coming weeks.

Student leaders aid Afghan refugees amid security crisis overseas

By Samantha Serafin, Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
September 16, 2021
Students who are deaf or hard of hearing can request Communication Access Realtime Translation services through the Disability Support Services office.

Captioners for hard-of-hearing students remain online this semester

By Abby Kennedy
September 13, 2021
SAEPi was founded as a national Jewish sorority in 1998 at the University of California, Davis and currently consists of 15 active chapters and colonies.

Newest chapter of Panhellenic Association to collaborate with local chapters on events

By Abby Kennedy
September 7, 2021
Sheets of plastic covered furniture and appliances in Kappa Delta and Alpha Phi’s townhouses alongside equipment from Belfor Property Restoration, which conducts mold removal and remediation services.

Townhouse Row residents visit hospital with flu-like symptoms following mold outbreak

By Isha Trivedi, Zach Blackburn and Abby Kennedy
September 7, 2021
Townhouse Row houses 204 students when filled to maximum capacity, according to GW's housing website.

Townhouse Row residents relocated to hotels after reports of ‘environmental concerns’

By Zach Blackburn and Abby Kennedy
September 5, 2021
BSU leaders said the group hopes to collaborate with other Black organizations on campus and those at American and Georgetown universities.

BSU announces ‘Elevation Amplified’ as annual theme to raise up Black voices

By Abby Kennedy
September 2, 2021
Some students said they had to leave the GWorld office and temporarily navigate campus without their card because they had scheduling conflicts and couldn't wait in the long line.

Students wait for hours to receive GWorld cards at University Student Center

By Abby Kennedy
August 30, 2021
Students walk by the Science and Engineering Hall Sunday as they prepare for the return of in-person classes.

Students resume in-person learning with relief, caution after online hiatus

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
August 30, 2021
Students said they signed up for on-campus events through the New Student Orientation program like campus tours, trips around D.C. and a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to acclimate to campus and build community.

Freshmen and sophomores arrive on campus after more than a year of virtual classes

By Abby Kennedy
August 22, 2021
The D.C. Circulator services neighborhoods like Georgetown with no other public transportation options.

D.C. Circulator to remain free through end of September

By Abby Kennedy
August 5, 2021
Restaurants in D.C. hope to use bubble tents, or "igloos," to keep diners eating outdoors as temperatures plummet this winter.

D.C. streatery program extended through February

By Abby Kennedy
July 27, 2021
University spokeswoman Crystal Nosal said officials notified students about the reduced cost through their eBill.

Off-campus students can enter residence halls as guests with new policy

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
July 16, 2021

COVID-19 cases, deaths in DMV drop to all-time lows

By Abby Kennedy
July 8, 2021

National Weather Service confirms two tornadoes in D.C. blocks from campus

By Abby Kennedy
July 6, 2021
Park visitors can file one-hour reservations on a first-come, first-served basis from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at a cost of $20 per hour of use.

National Park Service opens online reservations for National Mall fields

By Abby Kennedy
June 29, 2021

Charles Barber named interim vice president and general counsel

By Abby Kennedy
June 25, 2021
Officials declined to say if GW met its water conservation goals in 2016 to reduce spending on plastic water bottles by 50 percent.

Bottle-filling stations, vending machine upgrades to replace single-use plastics

By Abby Kennedy
June 23, 2021
Residents can access a promo code for a free $15 ride at 7 p.m. on July 4 on the SoberRide website.

Local organization to offer free Lyft rides July 4

By Abby Kennedy
June 23, 2021

D.C. reaches goal to vaccinate 70 percent of adults

By Abby Kennedy
June 17, 2021
Symptomatic testing will operate out of the CHC on the ground floor of the Marvin Center from Mondays through Thursday from 8:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m., according to an email sent to the University community Friday.

Symptomatic COVID-19 testing moves to Colonial Health Center from Lerner

By Abby Kennedy
June 9, 2021

Officials examining allegation about assignment involving anti-Semitic metaphor

By Abby Kennedy
June 3, 2021

Jewish sorority joins Greek life as newest Panhel chapter

By Abby Kennedy
May 31, 2021
Students said LeBlanc's leadership style left them desiring more direct communication and feeling that administrators were prioritizing finances over student interests.

LeBlanc has neglected student interests throughout tenure, students leaders say

By Lauren Sforza and Abby Kennedy
May 24, 2021
Graduating students said they invited vaccinated friends and family to D.C. to celebrate commencement in person.

Graduates celebrate Commencement with small gatherings of vaccinated friends

By Tara Suter and Abby Kennedy
May 17, 2021
Administrators said they will recognize Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates in person "when it is safe to do so."

Credit card information stolen from seniors in data breach of commencement attire vendor

By Abby Kennedy
May 13, 2021
Student leaders said they coordinated a Zoom meeting with MSA organizations at Georgetown, Howard and American universities to unify Muslim students around the DMV.

Ramadan celebration goes virtual with new Muslim Student Association programming

By Abby Kennedy
May 9, 2021
Freshmen said they could occasionally visit campus to try to connect with other students, but it was difficult to build community in a virtual setting.

Freshmen struggle to find community after year without residence hall experience

By Abby Kennedy
May 9, 2021
Incoming freshman Annie McFee said GW's test-optional application helped her decide to apply after her SAT was canceled last May.

Incoming freshmen struggle to navigate application, commitment process online

By Abby Kennedy
April 26, 2021
Cook said she plans to hold truth circles between the administration and BSU members to discuss past “discrepancies.”

Incoming BSU leaders to continue community-based initiatives, expand campus presence

By Abby Kennedy
April 19, 2021
Christian Alvarez Silva, the president of the chapter, said the idea for the group came after multiple on-campus protests to support immigrant rights.

GW adds chapter of national immigration advocacy group

By Abby Kennedy
April 12, 2021
Michelle Stock, the professor behind the study, will use her preliminary results to apply for further grants and expand the scope of her research.

Professor researches pandemic’s effect on Black young adults’ health

By Abby Kennedy
March 28, 2021
Antwan Jones, an associate professor of sociology and epidemiology, approached his research by surveying people to ask them about their perceptions of contracting COVID-19, a novel way of understanding the pandemic and gauging its effect on mental health.

Professor researches pandemic’s effect on health, stress

By Abby Kennedy
March 28, 2021
Public health school Dean Lynn Goldman said administrators are working with "appropriate University offices" to address the comments with a "high sense of urgency."

Take the first vaccine you can get, GW’s medical experts say

By Sejal Govindarao and Abby Kennedy
March 7, 2021
Three Medical Faculty Associates surgeons – the chief of the spine section of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, a cardiothoracic surgeon and a neurosurgeon – earned more than $1 million in fiscal year 2018.

Interdisciplinary research team to participate in Sanofi COVID-19 trial

By Abby Kennedy
February 24, 2021
Professor Samuel Ledermann hopes to study how the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the decisions of impact investors around the world.

Professors study how COVID-19 pandemic has affected investments made for social change

By Abby Kennedy
February 22, 2021
Janice Blanchard, a professor of medicine, has interviewed residents across D.C. about their thoughts on COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines.

Medical school professor interviews residents on COVID-19 perceptions

By Abby Kennedy
February 22, 2021
Students said spending time in wide-open spaces outside has helped alleviate some of the mental stress that comes with being cooped up inside all day.

Students rely on hobbies, routines to maintain mental health during pandemic

By Abby Kennedy
February 8, 2021
Officials said the patient who was refused testing at the GW Hospital did not fit the criteria for testing.

GW Hospital fined $100,000 for alleged hazardous waste violations

By Abby Kennedy
February 1, 2021
The Graduate School of Education and Human Development building on G Street.

Professor drafts website on K-12 teaching strategies during pandemic

By Abby Kennedy
January 25, 2021
Keith Crandall, the director of the Genomics Core, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and the director of the Computational Biology Institute, said the facility provides “state-of-the-art” sequencing capacity.

Professor creates database with COVID-19 patient data for researchers

By Abby Kennedy
January 25, 2021
Officials said the patient who was refused testing at the GW Hospital did not fit the criteria for testing.

GW Hospital named a COVID-19 vaccine distribution site

By Abby Kennedy
December 10, 2020
Sophomore Jonathan Kvilhaug and junior Katherine Tucker bag compost material in Kogan Plaza.

Two student interns continue composting program after Campaign GW goes on hiatus

By Abby Kennedy
November 16, 2020
The challenge offers students an outlet to solve problems in the field of sustainability and serve the community.

Officials say Eco-Equity challenge has raised local climate awareness through five years

By Abby Kennedy
November 2, 2020
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