The GW
HATCHET
April 7, 2025 Vol. 121 Iss. 24
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 • ONLINE AT GWHATCHET.COM
LEXI CRITCHETT | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Candidates weather ‘dark cloud’ of campus free speech Fiona Riley Senior News Editor In a year defi ned by campus unrest and mounting federal pressure on universities to stifle protests, Student Government Association presidential and vice presidential candidates’ plans on student speech are splintered. The campus community is closely watching University leaders, stakeholders and governing bodies for their responses to proPalestinian protests and President Donald Trump’s return to power. As students voice concerns that evolving GW policies and disciplinary processes threaten free speech, the SGA’s unmatched access to officials positions the body to elevate and speak on the issues dominating campus discourse — if its student leaders choose to do so.
The SGA over the last year has tried to balance voicing students’ free speech rights with protecting groups from discrimination and hate by forming working groups, releasing statements and passing resolutions. But they also faced backlash from students who said they didn’t sufficiently advocate for students during the pro-Palestinian encampment last spring. Criticism of the SGA’s response to topical issues came to a head this campaign season when the current administration pulled out of participating in Friday’s “Hands Off Our Schools” protest, citing allegations that the keynote speaker, former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (DNY), historically demonstrated “hateful rhetoric” toward the Jewish community. Several student governments for universities across the DMV signed
onto the protest as part of the wave of anti-Trump rallies across the country over the weekend. GW’s SGA was the only partnering organization to pull out. The decision was met with simultaneous support and pushback, as community members flocked to the SGA Instagram’s comments to lambast the “spineless and inexcusable” decision to withdraw, while others applauded the body’s “moral clarity.” The response highlighted the expectation that some students place on the SGA — that leaders must use the office’s power to advocate for the causes students care deeply about. But these causes are at times at odds with each other, forcing the SGA to face concerns that by supporting one group, they’ll isolate others. See SGA Page 4
Past SGA leaders weigh presidency’s power, limits Molly St. Clair Assistant News Editor Students this week will elect GW’s 111th Student Government Association president, a role with powers and limitations that former SGA leaders say are largely misunderstood by the student body they serve. Last year, a survey of nearly 100 GW students revealed a lack of knowledge about the role of the president and the functions of the governing body itself. Former SGA presidents and vice presidents said support from officials often defined their ability to accomplish big-ticket agenda items during their terms, reinforcing a relationship in which student leaders must accept the boundaries of their own power. Current SGA President Ethan Fitzgerald
said the bulk of the SGA’s success in its advocacy efforts lies within University officials’ acceptance of its suggestions. A concern he has heard from students throughout his term this year deals with tuition, with students routinely coming to him and other SGA leaders with questions about where their tuition dollars go, he said. He said students also came to him upset by the University’s restriction of access to the Milken Institute School of Public Health and accused the SGA of taking part in restricting access themselves. Fitzgerald said the SGA was as “shocked” as students were and worked to restore campus-wide access to the building. “We can always advocate, but I think there are sometimes decisions that administration make that people think,
‘Maybe the SGA was part of this,’” Fitzgerald said. “That’s not necessarily the case.” There is no clause in the SGA’s bylaws that outline a requirement of the administration to respond to or take action on SGA resolutions. Members of student government said last year that a lack of communication from officials on legislation stalled their ability to enact tangible change. Fitzgerald said he has heard “differing” opinions from University officials about whether or not SGA resolutions and legislation carry any binding requirements for the University to act, despite resolutions passed by the body this year that demanded officials to adopt changes to internal policies. See PRESIDENT Page 4
Thousands pack National Mall for ‘Hands Off’ rally rebuking Trump
GW may have ‘failed’ to effectively respond to Title VI complaints: OCR
RORY QUEALY
JENNIFER IGBONOBA
NEWS EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
SACHINI ADIKARI
CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR
Tens of thousands of protesters crowded around the Washington Monument on Saturday afternoon to rally against President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk’s “authoritarian overreach” in dismantling federal agencies, implementing tariffs and carrying out immigration raids. Demonstrators donned Handmaid’s Tale and early 20th century suffragette costumes, carried signs like “Hands off our Constitution” and “There are smarter cabinets at IKEA” and shouted chants like “Where is Congress? Do your job” and “Elon Musk has got to go.” The “Hands Off” D.C. rally was one of more than 1,000 protests WHAT’S
INSIDE
JERRY LAI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Protesters clap during a speech in front of the Washington Monument.
across all 50 states on Saturday in mass dissent of the Trump administration’s recent actions, including gutting government agencies, imposing heavy tariffs that have shocked the global economy and Musk’s encroaching presence in the federal government. Protesters flooded the
NEWS Meet the presidential and vice presidential candidates vying for the Student Government Association’s top posts. Pages 2, 3
National Mall at noon with signs in support of reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, researchers and scientists. The crowd swelled to a peak at about 1:30 p.m. “I feel like college students especially have to get out, especially GW, we’re right here, right under the government,” sophomore Madison Bender said.
The Department of Education Office for Civil Rights identified “concerns” in the University’s response to reports of discrimination and a hostile environment and unfair treatment in the student conduct process, according to a resolution agreement obtained by The Hatchet. GW entered a resolution agreement on Jan. 16 with OCR according to the resolution letter, which was obtained via a public records request, concluding nearly two-yearlong investigations into a pair of Title VI complaints alleging anti-Palestinian discrimination and antisemitism at the University. In a resolution letter addressed to University President Ellen Granberg, OCR said GW “appears” to have ineffectively responded to the reports due to incon-
OPINIONS The editorial board endorses Ethan Lynne for Student Government Association president and Liz Stoddard for vice president. Page 8
LEXI CRITCHETT | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR The entrance to the Department of Education on C Street.
sistencies in the process for reporting potential acts of discrimination. The Hatchet obtained the resolution letter and resolution agreement in an “interim response” through the Freedom of Information Act. Jasmine Gibbs, the team leader for the OCR’s D.C. office, sent the letter to Gran-
CULTURE Reminisce on some of the most noteworthy scandals that have infiltrated GW’s student government since its establishment. Page 9
berg and General Counsel Charles Barber. OCR redacted some information under an exemption that excused the agency from releasing information that could “reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if released.” See GW Page 7
SPORTS Take a listen to the songs serving as the soundtrack to baseball’s walk to the plate. Page 10