The GW
HATCHET
August 24, 2026 Vol. 123
Iss. 4
Welcome Back Guid e 2026 Pages 7-8
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 • ONLINE AT GWHATCHET.COM
GW sanctions ZBT, AEPi for spring hazing violations
Interfaith center strengthens religious connections in first years on campus
ADELAIDE PETRAS
ADELAIDE PETRAS
Two fraternities are facing sanctions after being found responsible for hazing and other policy violations, according to the Student Organization Conduct and Hazing Transparency Report. Zeta Beta Tau and Alpha Epsilon Pi were found responsible for hazing in the spring — along with alcohol and other policy violations — and face disciplinary probation, limitation of privileges and other sanctions, including ZBT losing its oncampus housing, according to the report, which officials updated Aug. 13. The sanctions bring the total number of Greek organizations that have been disciplined for hazing since 2020 to five and mark the first time a fraternity has been sanctioned for hazing since 2024, per the transparency report.
University Chaplain Kristen Glass Perez believes GW’s interfaith center has facilitated collaboration and understanding between religious groups on campus two years after its creation. The Division for Student Affairs launched the Center for Interfaith and Spiritual Life in fall 2024 as part of a University-wide plan to review campus free speech policies and religious programming in response to campus tensions over the war on Gaza. Perez, who helms CISL alongside Director Simran Kaur-Colbert, said the center has successfully built connections and fostered dialogue among religious and non-religious students, as she looks to establish new grants and fellowships and strengthen relationships with the cen-
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The University spokesperson declined to comment on the nature of each incident listed on the report. The Interfraternity Council did not return a request for comment on the specifics of each incident and how IFC assisted with the investigations. ZBT faces removal from housing, disciplinary probation, limitation of privileges, organizational censure and additional sanctions for its hazing and alcohol violations. The Division for Student Affairs found that members engaged in hazing by means of requiring new members to participate in “lineups,” though members declined to disclose the details of the lineups, according to the report.
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
JERRY LAI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The former Zeta Beta Tau fraternity townhouse sits at 603 22nd Street.
DSA conducted an investigation into the hazing reports between April 24 through May 15, and officials delivered the outcome to the organization on July 1. The University spokesperson said a typical hazing investigation involves coordinated interviews and evidence review to evaluate “group culture” and overall student wellbeing. Members of ZBT’s executive board did not return requests for comment. AEPi was found responsible for hazing by requiring members to complete tasks like making videos, completing challenges, performing “embarrassing acts” and consuming substances they “would not typically consume.” The investigation into AEPi spanned March 17 to April 7 and resulted in disciplinary probation through December 2027 and limitation of recruitment privileges. The organization will also have to engage in a new member education and experience plan. Members of AEPi’s executive board did not return requests for comment.
SNAPSHOT
ZBT also accepted responsibility for a guest accessing the closed rooftop, which resulted in “personal injury” for the guest, for an event occurring April 23. The University spokesperson declined to share the specifics of the incident. ZBT was also found responsible for alcohol violations during a Jan. 20 incident due to open bottles of alcohol in common areas of its on-campus house, improperly storing a propane tank and violating other housing policies. The fraternity was found responsible for community disturbance on multiple occasions, spanning Feb. 5 to March 26, after receiving noise complaints from neighbors for at least one unregistered off-campus party. AEPi was also found responsible for offering and providing alcohol, underage alcohol use and drug and paraphernalia possession and use for a Jan. 23 incident. Sanctions for the incident include social probation through September 2026 and disciplinary probation through December 2026.
JERRY LAI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
University Chaplain Kristen Glass Perez poses for a portrait.
discrimination. Entering what she calls the center’s second full year of operations on campus, Perez said the center has put on events and created spaces that facilitate dialogue between different religious groups on campus, as well as dialogue between religious and secular groups. She cited the organization’s hosting of Sharaka, an event focused on Israeli and Arab coexistence in spring 2025 as an example of the center creating space for conversations regarding conflicts in the Middle East. “Everybody can relate to this at GW, but also in the world — what happens in the world impacts us locally, right? So we work to support people, to be available for people, for listening,” Perez said. See UNIVERSITY Page 5
CARSTEN HOLST | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
GW Hospital midwifery practice in limbo amid MFA transition LAKSHMI DEV
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Graham Rahal speeds past in an IndyCar at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
ter’s on and off-campus partners. “When we have lots of people who are engaging with one another and planning programs together with our support and also independently of us, then that’s a win,” Perez said. “And I think that we’ve seen that grow, and I really look forward to seeing that grow more.” Officials created CISL in a period of growing, visible instances of discrimination on campus. Both Jewish and Muslim students reported instances of religious discrimination stemming from rising on-campus tensions related to the war in Gaza in the year prior to the office’s launch, including a pair of Title VI complaints filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in 2023 alleging antisemitic and anti-Palestinian
Capital Medical Group, the medical practice that staffs GW Hospital, currently employs no midwives, leaving pregnant patients who sought out the hospital’s midwifery services uncertain about their options for care. CMG — a new physician-led nonprofit subsidiary of Universal Health Services, the owner and operator of GW Hospital, that provides clinical services at GW Hospital — continues to advertise a midwifery practice that provides prenatal care and deliveries at GW Hospital on its website,
despite confirming that no midwives signed contracts in July to work at the practice. The hospital’s midwifery practice has faced staffing shortages since at least 2022, and the recent transition of clinical services at GW Hospital from the Medical Faculty Associates to CMG has raised questions about the status of the program and has caused some patients to consider seeking care elsewhere as they report difficulties scheduling appointments with midwives. The MFA is expected to permanently wind down its operations in September, with GW officials saying about 85 percent of the practice’s 1,270 employees have
accepted contracts with CMG . A spokesperson for UHS said CMG offered employment contracts to the midwives previously employed by the MFA, but all of them declined. “We are assessing the future of the midwife program,” the UHS spokesperson said in an email. The practice has faced staffing challenges in recent years, with the program issuing a notice in 2022 warning patients they would see a “decreased midwifery presence” in the hospital office and the labor and delivery ward due to the practice undergoing “temporary changes.”
Staff Council collaborating with officials to improve performance review process PARIS ALBRECHT
CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR
The Staff Council is working with officials to improve GW’s performance review process, just months after officials reinstated the merit pool for salary increases this fiscal year, Staff Council President Mindy Galván announced at a meeting Friday. Galván said the council is working with Human Resource Management and Development to analyze data to help continue “reimagining” the performance review process, while also pressing officials on how managers are trained in the process in an effort to create equity in how staff are evaluated across campus. The initiative comes after officials announced that the fiscal year 2027 budget includes the return of a 3 percent merit pool to fund salary increases for eligible employees, which are based on performance reviews. Galván said as a result of complaints from staff across the University, she “strongly suggested” to officials that managers be trained WHAT’S
INSIDE
on the performance review process to avoid confusion about how many staff members can earn an “exceeds expectations” rating. She said she also urged officials to clarify how performance targets are met to increase equity in the staff experience across campus. She said Staff Council leadership also met with Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes and Vice President for Finance and Assistant Treasurer Hemant Bakshi to find ways to “better compensate” staff, but did not specify which avenues officials are exploring to improve compensation. The initiative adds to the council’s ongoing advocacy efforts regarding the performance review process and merit increases, including advocating for separating employees’ salary increases from their performance evaluations. Fernandes told the Staff Council last November that officials are looking into the Staff Council’s proposal for a yearly flat salary increase of 3 to 5 percent, though they would have to assess any impacts on the University’s budget and structural
NEWS Officials urge the Class of 2030 to leverage GW’s location in the nation’s capital at this year’s convocation ceremony. Page 2
deficit, as it would require GW to fund a higher merit pool. Galván said the council is also working with the Division of Safety and Operations and HRMD to reinstate the weather flex policy, which allows staff to use their “best judgment” if inclement weather poses a commuting travel hazard. The Staff Council unanimously passed a resolution in May recommending that officials adopt a weather flex policy that gives staff the ability to make decisions regarding their personal safety in the event of severe weather. Councilmembers in May said they brought the resolution forward after officials have made last-minute decisions on University closures with minimal communication or guidance, and with little consideration for staff not living in the Foggy Bottom area, like when forecasts indicated the potential for tornadoproducing storms in March. Galván acknowledged the University’s recent layoffs, citing restructuring efforts to “balance” units’ budgets. Both the Milken Institute School of Public Health and
OPINIONS The Editorial Board encourages students to embrace D.C. despite Trump’s changes to the city. Page 5
KRIS PARK | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Staff Council President Mindy Galván speaks at a Board of Trustees meeting in May.
the School of Medicine & Health Sciences have confirmed layoffs, according to emails from their deans. Galván said units that experience layoffs are often left in “uncertain” positions that impact morale and staff’s everyday workloads. Milken and SMHS’ layoffs come after officials laid off 43 staff mem-
SPORTS GW water polo is planning a championship comeback with a roster of 15 returning players. Page 6
bers last September, citing the need for additional budget cuts following a 3 percent reduction of the FY2026 budget. Staff Council Vice President Andrea Johnson said in her report that nominations for the upcoming Staff Council elections opened on Aug. 17 and will close on Aug. 31.
CULTURE Dive into your residence hall’s history and find the hottest D.C. live music venue with The Hatchet’s Welcome Back Guide. Page 7-8
NEWS
August 24, 2026 • Page 2
NEWS
THIS WEEK’S
EVENTS
THE GW HATCHET
MICROECONOMICS SEMINAR Monday, Aug. 24 | 12:30 p.m. | Hall of Government Join an economics professor for a discussion of microeconomics.
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Aug. 25, 1986
Excavation begins to construct a new GW Hillel House at 23rd and H streets.
GW’s student health insurance costs rise for fifth consecutive year ARUNMOY DAS
CRIME LOG HARASSING TELEPHONE CALLS
South Hall 8/16/2026 – 2:55 a.m. Closed Case A female GW student reported receiving harassing telephone calls from a male GW staff member.
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The annual cost of GW’s Student Health Insurance Plan rose by $84 this year, marking the fifth consecutive increase in insurance premiums, according to University student health plan records. SHIP premiums, the amount students must pay to maintain their insurance coverage, have risen by at least $84 each year in publicly available archives — dating back to the 2021-22 academic year — rising from $2,465 in 2021-22 to $3,355 in 2026-27, according to SHIP website archives. A University spokesperson said rising medical and prescription costs, inflation and changes in student insurance use have caused year-to-year changes in premiums. SHIP premiums rose from $2,999 in the 2024-2025 academic year to $3,271 in the 2025-26 academic year, a 9 percent increase and the highest in available records. Premiums rose by $158 prior to the 2024-25 academic year, $141 prior to the 2023-24 academic year and $235 prior to the 2022-23 academic year. This year’s $84 increase marks the lowest increase in premium prices during the period dating back to the 2021-22 academic year. The University requires all undergraduate, graduate, law, health sciences and doctoral students studying at the Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia Science and Technology campuses to have health insurance, including international students on J1 and F1 visas, according to the SHIP
NATIONAL MALL KICKBACK Friday, Aug. 28 | 5 p.m. | National Mall Attend an event with food and lawn games to connect with other GW students.
Case closed. Subject barred.
THEFT II/OTHER
Private Property Within Campus Bounds 8/16/2026 – 4:59 p.m. Open Case A male GW student reported their scooter stolen from the Ross Hall bike rack.
Case open.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
Public Property on Campus (2100 Block of I Street NW) 8/17/2026 – 9:00 a.m. Closed Case A female GW staff member reported being assaulted by an unknown male suspect.
Case closed. No identifiable suspect.
GRAPHIC BY SOFIA ANG
website. Students can waive the SHIP requirement by filling out a waiver form by Sept. 12 and must have health insurance coverage that complies with the Affordable Care Act and provides comprehensive benefits, including non-emergency benefits, in the GW campus area, according to the SHIP waiver criteria. A University spokesperson said SHIP premiums are set annually based on expected claim costs, administrative costs, taxes and fees. The spokesperson said administrative Premium
costs at some of GW’s peer schools this year exceed those at the University even after increases over the past few years, with Boston University charging $4,054 for their SHIP this academic year, $699 higher than GW’s current annual price, and Tufts University charging $4,976 for their student plan this academic year, $1,621 higher than the annual charge at GW. Syracuse University charges its students $2,868 for health insurance in the 2026-27 academic year, $487 less than the University’s $3,355 annual cost.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY/VANDALISM
1922 F Street Unknown – Unknown Closed Case A male GW staff member reported vandalism of a surveillance camera.
Case closed. No suspects or witnesses.
—Compiled by Isaac Harte
Officials urge Class of 2030 to leverage GW’s DC location at Convocation ISAAC HARTE
CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR
Officials encouraged the Class of 2030 and transfer students to capitalize on GW’s location in D.C. and proximity to global institutions at the annual Convocation and Welcome Day of Service ceremony at the Smith Center on Saturday. University President Ellen Granberg, Provost Ed Balleisen — in one of his first official appearances since assuming the provost role in July — Dean of Students Collette Coleman and student speaker Amel Alahmadi encouraged incoming students to use their resilience, curiosity and confidence to preform acts of service as they embark on their GW experiences. The ceremony immediately preceded GW’s Welcome Day of Service, an event organized by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service where students engage in service projects at sites across the DMV. Granberg called on students to embrace the opportunities associated with attending college in the nation’s capitol and cited the number of alumni who serve
in Congress, among other senior level government positions. She said GW’s track record of producing successful alumni makes the University the “perfect place” for students to achieve their academic and professional goals. “This proud legacy, combined with your talent and your energy, makes this a perfect place for you to chase the possibilities that your college future holds,” Granberg said. Granberg encouraged students to embrace both their “extraordinary” intellectual potential as well as their “grit and resilience” throughout their time at GW. “This is a time in your life to take that confidence, that resilience, that potential in development to experiment, to innovate, and sometimes to stumble, but always, always to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again,” Granberg said. This year’s Convocation and Welcome Day of Service marks the third year in a row officials held the event during orientation week, following a sparse turnout at the ceremony in 2023 when officials moved Convocation to about a month into the
fall semester. About 2,200 students participated in the last year’s Welcome Day of Service, fanning out to 62 service sites across all eight D.C. wards, as well in Maryland and Virginia, according to the Nashman Center’s website. Balleisen told students to view the D.C. metropolitan area as an extension of GW’s campus and encouraged attendees to take advantage of GW’s central location among hubs of global influence. He said the unparalleled proximity GW students have to institutions like the World Bank and the State Department enhances the opportunities for GW students to learn from their surroundings and further explore their academic interests. “The District of Columbia is home to institutions that shape policy, advance science, promote culture and address global challenges,” Balleisen said. “Some of those institutions are only a few blocks away. They are yours to discover. Take advantage of them.” Coleman referred to the Division for Student Affair’s five core principles — community, critical thinking, curiosity, empathy and ex-
KRIS PARK | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR University President Ellen Granberg attends GW’s annual Convocation and Welcome Day of Service ceremony on Saturday.
ploration — and said students should rely on them throughout their time at GW. She said the principles would help students “shape” the impact they have on GW. “These principles are the threads that we weave into everything that we do, from leadership programs to your student boards, to your wellbeing resources, to cultural
connections and celebrations to service,” Coleman said. Alahmadi, a junior majoring in civil engineering, called on students to engage in acts of service and said students can use their GW education as a tool for creating change. She cited various service projects, like tutoring middle school aged
students, as examples of how she uses her GW education to provide assistance to others. “It can be through research, leadership, advocacy, mentoring, or simply just showing up,” Alahmadi said. “Service is not separate from education or career goals, but something that should be woven into them.”
THE GW HATCHET
NEWS
August 24, 2026 • Page 3
MPD arrests individual at 2400 Pennsylvania Ave. after hourslong standoff RYAN SAENZ
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
The Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest after engaging in an hourslong standoff with an individual who barricaded himself inside a room in 2400 Pennsylvania Ave. An MPD spokesperson confirmed officers in the department’s Violent Crimes Suppression Division were executing a warrant in 2400 Pennsylvania Ave. just past 8:30 a.m. before the suspect fled into a unit and barricaded himself inside. MPD eventually arrested the man around 5:30 p.m. and reopened Pennsylvania Avenue to traffic after blocking vehicle and pedestrian access for several hours as officers surrounded the building. University officials issued multiple GW Alerts starting just after noon directing community members to avoid the area on Pennsylvania and New Hampshire avenues and K Street as a large law enforcement response descended on the area. A smashed out window on the top residential floor of the building could be seen on the build-
The Metropolitan Police Department monitors a barricade situation at 2400 Pennsylvania Ave. on Saturday.
ing’s south side, facing K street, with signs the individual placed in the window claiming he was “framed” and “targeted.”
MPD placed a jump pad under the smashed window just before 1 p.m. as a large response with the District’s Emergency Re-
KRIS PARK | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
sponse Team gathered on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building. Dozens of MPD cruisers — including with MPD’s
ERT — D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services vehicles and other law enforcement were stationed from the Pennsylvania Av-
enue side of the building for around five hours, with multiple streets cordoned off by police tape with officers restricting access to the blocked off areas. Multiple officers could be seen on the roof of the building starting just before 1 p.m., and officers launched a drone multiple times fixed on the window. The scene remained largely inactive for much of the afternoon, until a FEMS ladder arrived at 3 p.m., and officials affixed three ladders on the roof — blocking the smashed out window — and pushed the top of the fire truck’s ladder against the three ladders on the roof. After about a half hour, officials began lowering the FEMS ladder and removing the additional ladders affixed to the roof. On the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building, law enforcement vehicles slowly began leaving the scene. A suspect was eventually led out of the building, flanked by half a dozen officers, before being loaded into an ambulance and driven to GW Hospital, with an MPD cruiser in tow. University officials issued an all-clear at 5:22 p.m.
GW to maintain reduced security guard staffing in upperclass residence halls ISAAC HARTE
CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR
SHIVU SATHE
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
HATCHET FILE PHOTO Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes at a Faculty Senate meeting in November 2024.
Officials hiring for vice president, treasurer position as GW reestablishes role PARIS ALBRECHT
CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR
The University is searching to fill the vice president, treasurer position, reinstating a post that has been vacant and temporarily managed by Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes since July 2022. A University spokesperson confirmed that officials are looking to fill the position after former Interim University President Mark Wrighton appointed Fernandes, then-treasurer and vice president of finance, to the CFO role in 2022, where he has since continued to oversee the treasurer function. The job posting — which officials posted in mid-July — states the position will report to Fernandes and be responsible for developing “fiscally responsible” policies across treasury operations, debt management, investments and risk management. Fernandes, who joined GW’s finance division as treasurer in 2021, took over the role of executive vice president, CFO and treasurer after the departure of former CFO Mark Diaz in July 2022, effectively leaving the treasurer position vacant. Officials appointed Vice President for Finance and Assistant Treasurer Hemant Bakshi to his new role in July 2024, after previously serving as senior associate vice president for financial planning and opera-
tions. GW’s leadership website and the release announcing his appointment as CFO indicate Fernandes’ current role as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer. A release announcing Bakshi’s new role states he would oversee treasury and risk management in the position. The posting, which lists a salary range of $208,279.60 to $437,314.92 per year, states the role will oversee GW’s investment decisions by ensuring GW meets sufficient liquidity needs and debt service obligations. The role also includes the responsibility of recommending investment strategies that support GW’s long-term financial sustainability. The position will also oversee workers’ compensation program and procure-to-pay strategy by working with other finance leaders like University Controller Neena Ali and Associate Vice President, Procure-to-Pay Donna Ginter. The reestablishment of the role in the finance division comes as GW continues to face budget headwinds and a second year of expense cuts. A University spokesperson declined to comment on whether officials are reestablishing the role in response to GW’s financial constraints.
Officials will maintain decreased security personnel stationed in upperclassmen residence halls, focusing coverage to first-year buildings during the upcoming academic year, according to an update officials released Wednesday. Officials said “in general” first-year residence halls will continue to be staffed by guards, while upperclassmen halls will primarily rely on systems already in place, like closed-circuit television cameras, contracted roving security personnel and GW Police Department incident response. The continued rollback in security protocol comes after officials discontinued 24-hour coverage in second-year and upperclassmen residence halls in September last year. A University spokesperson declined to identify which residence halls would have security guards and at what times they would be present, citing safety concerns associated with disclosing the information, but said officials are committed to maintaining a “safe and secure” environment for students. In the update, officials said there were residence halls where staffing levels “exceed” present “service needs,” but didn’t specify what residence halls this applied to. Last academic year, first-year resident halls, Francis Scott Key Hall, District House, JBKO Hall, Munson Hall and International House had 24/7 security, while all other second-year and upperclassmen residence halls transitioned to only overnight coverage from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Student leaders from the Student Government Association and Residential Hall Association said steady security presence serves as a crime deterrent with some students saying they are worried about what a lack of security could mean for dorm safety. Students said for residences like Munson Hall and JBKO Hall that
see heightened foot traffic due to the proximity to the metro, security should be present in the buildings. The spokesperson said GW makes decisions regarding security staffing based on safety data, among other metrics. “The University regularly evaluates security coverage for our campus community, which is informed by a detailed review of safety data, service activity, campus utilization and operational needs and is adjusted as needed to ensure resources are deployed effectively to support campus safety,” the spokesperson said in an email. The spokesperson also cited the University’s publicly available daily crime and fire log as additional safety-related information that is available to students. Universities are required to publicize a routinely updated crime log under the Clery Act — a 1990 law that requires universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to provide information about crimes occurring on campus. The University spokesperson said officials encourage members of the community to contact GW directly with concerns or questions surrounding campus safety. RHA President Will O’Donnell said during his meeting with GW Police Chief Victor Brito, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Colette Coleman, Vice President for Safety and Operations Baxter Goodley and other officials on July 28 that he was told upperclassmen dorms will no longer be staffed with security guards. “I’ve expressed concern about this, especially for the dorms along the 23rd Street corridor,” O’Donnell said. He said the 23rd Street corridor, which includes Munson Hall, JBKO Hall and Fulbright Hall, should have increased security due to their proximity to the Foggy Bottom Metro stop, which draws more non-student foot traffic. O’Donnell said RHA is “very concerned” about campus safety, citing ongoing America 250 celebrations and the influx of tourists on campus.
“I don’t think it’s that crazy to say that you want people who are getting paid these massive security contracts to be aware and attentive to what is going on in a residence hall lobby,” O’Donnell said. O’Donnell said a “big concern” for RHA has been Securitas officers not doing their job “correctly,” with guards often being on their phones or not paying attention to what is going on in the areas they patrol. O’Donnell said he is trying to listen to as many perspectives as he can on security issues. He also said he has heard from students, particularly international students and immigrants, who don’t feel as safe as they previously did under expanded security. “I’m just serving as an advocate and interrogating, asking those hard questions, has been my main priority this year,” O’Donnell said. “I want to be as open and receptive to people’s feedback as I can be because that is the best way I can lead and represent the 7,000 students who live on campus.” Officials also said in the update they were continuing to monitor the presence of the National Guard in D.C. but said they do not anticipate “direct impacts” to GW’s operations. SGA Sen. Cole Bowie (CCASU), the chair of the Physical Facilities and Urban Affairs Committee, said he believes first-year halls still need someone at the desk for an “extra layer” of security while they are finding their “footing” on campus. He also said Fulbright Hall, Munson Hall and JBKO Hall should also have full-time security due to their proximity to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro stop. Bowie said he would be open to having conversations with University officials about how to improve student safety in the wake of security roll backs. He said if students are concerned about their safety, he would be “more than happy” to voice their opinions to the SGA and work within the legislative process to put forth measures protecting students. “I do believe that, through the legislative process, we can make student voices heard,” Bowie said.
Vex switches operators as officials seek to save money amid budget cuts AMELIA NELSON
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Officials announced the Mount Vernon Express shuttle changed operating companies for the upcoming academic year, a move a University spokesperson attributed to budget constraints. Betsy Shimberg, the assistant dean of the Mount Vernon Campus, said in an email to Vern residents Tuesday GW is now partnering with Charter Linkz, a national transportation chartering and logistics company, to operate the Vex but that no changes to the shuttle’s schedule or service will accompany the shift. A University spokesperson said the Division
of Safety and Operations began searching for a new Vex operator last spring as a result of GW’s budget cuts, deciding to switch from Reston Limousine — which the University first partnered with in fall 2023 — to Charter Linkz because it will provide “financial savings” while keeping service the same. The spokesperson said seven shuttles operated by Charter Linkz will carry up to 30 seated passengers — the same number as last year — plus a maximum of eight standing passengers, down two from Reston Limousine. Officials authorized up to 10 standing passengers in shuttles last fall to accommodate surges in ridership and times
when additional shuttles were not nearby. The spokesperson said the shuttles will run on standard fuel due to “issues” with the propane-fueled shuttles the University first purchased in 2023, which officials said at the time would “reduce emissions and engine noise.” The University’s ongoing sustainability goals include achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and converting Universityoperated transportation to zero-emissions vehicles. The spokesperson said a combination of newly hired and previously contracted drivers will operate the shuttles. The spokesperson also said the shuttles will include a
wheelchair ramp and securements, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a feature consistent with former shuttles and be capable of accommodating a bike. Shimberg told Vern residents in her email the shuttles are not currently GW-branded due to the change in operators, but officials are working on adding University branding to all the vehicles to help students identify them. Riders will be able to track the shuttles through the TrackMyShuttle software, according to the spokesperson, which is currently accessible through the myGW app. The University first unveiled the ability to track
ERIKA LOPEZ-CEPERO | PHOTOGRAPHER Students board the new Mount Vernon Express.
the Vex through the myGW app last year. The University reduced shuttle frequency from every five to every 10 minutes and cut the number of
buses in service from nine to seven last year, a move officials attributed to new shuttle models that increased seated passenger capacity from 25 to 30.
NEWS
August 24, 2026 • Page 4
THE GW HATCHET
CPS, English department launch new combined BA/MPS SARAH GROSS
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
COURTESY OF MARYLAND ONCOLOGY HEMATOLOGY The lobby of the Maryland Oncology Hematology cancer treatment center.
MFA oncology, hematology practice joins Maryland provider following transition LAKSHMI DEV
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The GW Medical Faculty Associates’ Oncology & Hematology practice will join Maryland Oncology Hematology next month in a partnership to expand the Maryland-based cancer care provider into downtown D.C. The partnership, which takes effect Sept. 1, will integrate the MFA’s oncology and hematology practice into MOH’s network while maintaining the practice’s connection to GW’s academic and research programs, according to their joint announcement on Aug. 20. The move comes as the majority of the MFA’s clinical operations transition to Capital Medical Group, but the oncology and hematology practice will instead operate separately under MOH while continuing to coordinate care with CMG and GW Hospital. MOH officials said in the release the change will give patients access to MOH’s broader network of specialists, treatment options and clinical trials across the DMV area while allowing them to continue seeing their current physicians. “By bringing their expertise into our network, we are further expanding access to innovative treatments, leading-edge clinical trials, and exceptional care for patients in the communities we serve,” George A. Sotos — the president of MOH — said in the announcement. MOH is a private, physician-owned practice that provides cancer and blood disorder care across Maryland and D.C. It was founded in 1986
and was the first provider of oncology and hematology care in the Howard county area of Maryland. It now employing over 58 physicians in 17 locations across central Maryland. The addition of the MFA’s practice will mark MOH’s 18th location in the DMV and its first in downtown D.C., according to the announcement. “By bringing their expertise into our network, we are further expanding access to innovative treatments, leading-edge clinical trials and exceptional care for patients in the communities we serve,” Sotos said in the announcement. The partnership comes as the MFA is set to begin winding down operations and their clinical operations undergo a broader transition away from University management starting Sept. 6, with many of its physicians and staff moving to Capital Medical Group — the new nonprofit physician group affiliated with Universal Health Services, the private health care company that operates GW Hospital, that is taking over many of the MFA’s clinical operations. A MOH spokesperson said the oncology and hematology practice will operate separately from CMG while coordinating care with its physicians and other providers when appropriate. UHS did not return a request for comment on the partnership, its relationship with the broader transition of MFA’s clinical operations or its potential effects on patient care. The practice will lease
its clinic space in the same building as CMG which an MOH spokesperson said will facilitate coordinated care between providers. Eight physicians from the MFA’s oncology and hematology practice will join MOH alongside most of its administrative and clinical staff, according to a spokesperson. Patients will continue receiving care from the majority of their current physicians and clinical staff at the existing clinic location, the spokesperson said. The physicians transitioning to MOH will also remain responsible for inpatient hematology and medical oncology care at GW Hospital, while GW Hospital and CMG will not employ other medical oncology or hematology providers. A spokesperson said the MOH hopes the transition will expand patients’ access to specialized services and clinical trials through MOH’s existing research program with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute — an oncology research organization that partners with MOH to offer patients access to cancer clinical trials — while continuing to work with GW to maintain and expand the University’s clinical trial portfolio. “MOH will be making its clinical trial portfolio available to GW patients which will dramatically expand clinical trial availability,” a spokesperson said. “At the same time, MOH will be working in conjunction with George Washington University to continue running and expanding the GWU clinical trial portfolio, which will be made available to patients in partnership with MOH.”
The College of Professional Studies and the Department of English will launch a new combined bachelor’s in creative writing and master’s degree in publishing this fall. The combined degree program allows students to double count two graduate-level courses toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees and is the second dual-degree program in the English department, after the combined BA/MA in English. The program will open applications this fall and is designed to prepare students for careers at publishing houses, scholarly journals, independent presses and literary magazines, according to its website. Jung Yun, director of the creative writing program, said the program will focus on reaching students earlier in their undergraduate career to expose them to opportunities in publishing less accessible at the undergraduate level and give them a head start as they work on their “craft and acumen,” in creative writing and English courses. Yun said creative writing students are eligible to apply for the dual-degree program in the second semester of their sophomore year and no later than the end of their first semester of junior year. “Students who are in this combined degree program as undergraduates will have access to the programs for graduate candidates, so symposia, lectures, networking events, things that the graduate students now have access to,” Yun said. To be admitted to the dual-degree program, undergraduate applicants must have a minimum 3.3 GPA in the required courses for the English and creative writing major and submit the materials required for admission to the MPS program in publishing, including two letters of recommendation, according to the program website. Yun, who spearheaded the development of the program, said her idea for the program began after CPS and the creative writing department held a panel on publishing careers in April 2024. She said she was “stunned” at how many undergraduate creative
A student writes in a notebook.
writing students attended the event and had previously been unaware of the publishing program, leading her to consider the possibility of a dualdegree program. Yun said she worked with John Warren, the director of CPS’ publishing program, to develop a combined degree where students take two graduate courses — book and journal publishing and copyright law in publishing — during their final year in the creative writing undergraduate program. She said the two graduate level courses replace two three-credit, 3000-level creative writing courses in the bachelor’s program. As undergraduates, students take courses in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or playwriting before advancing to graduate courses in editing and acquisitions, marketing and publicity, copyright and licensing, production and the business of publishing, according to the program website. Warren said the dual-degree program allows students interested in a career in publishing to save both time and money since they complete both degrees in five years instead of the usual six. He said over the past few decades, publishing has changed “dramatically” and has shifted from an apprenticeship model where people learn on the job to a profession that applies university-level knowledge. “It can be a difficult field to enter, so our goal is to prepare students for managerial and leadership positions across all publishing segments,” Warren said. Warren said there are only five master’s in publishing programs in the United States, and with approximately 100 students enrolled in the cohort in 2025, GW’s program is one of the largest. He said a graduate degree is “not absolutely necessary” to pursue a career in publishing, although the MPS in publishing degree and the additional knowledge gained from the program helps students stand out in applications and promotions. Warren said the two courses that double count for both degrees are taught by Dean Smith, the director of Duke University Press, and Puja Telikicherla, a licensing and subsidiary rights manager at the American Psychiatric Association.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AINSLEY SULLIVAN
University chaplain says interfaith center will launch new fellowships in fall From Page 1 Perez also said the center has a chaplainsin-residence program, where chaplains of different faiths live in residence halls on campus and make themselves available for individual conversations and offer support for students who have “family all over the world.” The center will also be launching two fellowship programs for the first time this coming academic year, which will come with “some funding” for students, according to Perez. The fellowships will include Interfaith Fellows, who will intern with the center’s community partners, and Bridge Building Interfaith Fellows, who will do acts of service around D.C. Perez said applications for the fellowships will open in early September. She said much of the center’s first year was spent building partnerships. The center has formal partnerships with GW and D.C.-based religious communities — who host programming on and off campus alongside CISL — including GW Catholics, GW Hillel, the Buddha Meditation Center of D.C., the Washington National Cathedral and the Nation’s Mosque. CISL also works with over 30 religious, spiritual and secular student organiza-
tions, Perez said. Perez said a religious leader from each formal partner sits on CISL’s Council of Chaplains and hosts programming on campus and at their individual sites. She said CISL connects students with places where they can observe their religion across the District, even outside the center’s formal partners. “I think every day we’re trying to expand those partnerships, find places that support our students across their different traditions,” Perez said. Perez said events hosted in the last year like the Interfaith Iftar in February — which she said over 400 students attended and the center worked with multiple student organizations to plan — the Kosher Food Festival and Interfaith Passover show the center’s success in facilitating community among religious student organizations. She said she has gathered from student feedback that students are often interested in learning about traditions outside of their own faith, but they are afraid of crossing boundaries or offending someone by asking questions. The center, Perez said, has sought to lower barriers to learning about different traditions. “I think everybody
has a really good intention and doesn’t want to be disrespectful or offend another person, but also wants the opportunity to learn about other traditions,” Perez said. Perez said CISL’s largest event last year was Interfaith Week, which drew over 600 students and had 30 student organizations participate — numbers that Perez said exceeded expectations. Last year was the second year CISL hosted Interfaith Week after officials moved religious and spiritual life programming under the office’s purview after the event was previously housed under the Multicultural Student Services Center since the program’s inception in 2019. The move spurred mixed student reactions — with some students reporting improved communication with student groups, while a former MSSC graduate assistant said the move went against the center’s commitment to inclusivity. Perez said the center solicits student feedback through various avenues, including through evaluation forms and individual anecdotes, which have shown that students often don’t know what the office does or that it existed. She said to boost student engagement, the center established a stu-
dent advisory board last year — which met with the Student Government Association and invited religious student groups into CISL’s office space — to help facilitate relationships between students and learn how to have difficult conversations around religion. “Our goal is for the whole GW community, but also especially students to be able to be who they are, right?” Perez said. “I always say you don’t have to check anything at the door. We’re also not trying to trick people or force people to do something that they don’t want to do, but how can we help?” Student religious leaders said while their interactions with CISL have been limited, the office has provided valuable resources, like prayer spaces, and offered direction to student organizations seeking to put on religious programming on campus. Alexa Bakhchi, the president of L’Chaim Jewish Student Group, said while she tends to go to her own organization for religious support rather than CISL, Perez provides contacts and advice regarding on-campus events the group is hosting. Bakhchi said she met with Perez, who is the group’s advisor, after seeing trucks displaying anti-Israeli messaging circling Kogan Plaza during
Israel Fest in the spring. She said Perez communicated with students about what happened during what Bakhchi said was an antisemitic incident and provided reassurance that GW does not support organizations spreading hateful language. “After Israel Fest, I had a meeting with Kristen, and she said that the school obviously does not support those people that are spreading the hate,” Bakhchi said. Sam Luxhoj, the president of Agape Christian Fellowship, said while he does not interact with CISL frequently, he has used one of the center’s prayer spaces — which are located in the University Student Center and Academic Building on the Mount Vernon Campus and are open to all GW community members — a few times. He said he values having a space where people can both pray quietly and interact with people of their own and other religions. “At least for me, not only is it a prayer room, but it’s also a place where multiple people of multiple faiths can come, which I think is really important,” Luxhoj said. Grace Park — a medical student and the president of Asian Baptist Student Koinonia, a nationwide Christian fellowship that came to GW last semes-
ter — said she expressed her interest in starting an ABSK chapter at GW to Perez after being part of a chapter while completing her undergraduate studies at Wellesley College. She said Perez served as a mentor and helped her navigate the administrative side of starting a student organization. “I could really sense how much she cares about the students on campus and is really passionate about creating an inclusive environment here at GW,” Park said. Elyse Reznik, the president of the Jewish Student Association, said JSA has attended CISL-hosted events, like Kosher Food Festival and a Shabbat service during Interfaith Week, and JSA and CISL frequently invite each other to their events. Reznik said CISL should have its own Instagram account to grow their own audience, since the center often relies on JSA and other groups to share flyers on social media. She said Instagram posts remind people the center exists when students may ignore emails. “Happy to support, happy to help, but also I think it’d be very beneficial for them to have their own network and Linktree and whatever on social media, just so people can plug in that way,” Reznik said.
THE GW HATCHET
OPINIONS
August 24, 2026 • Page 5
OPINIONS
WHAT THE UNIVERSITY WON’T TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK
The timeline for Zeta Beta Tau’s return to on-campus housing following hazing-related sanctions. p.1
As Trump remakes DC’s landscape, we can’t lose sight of our love for the city STAFF EDITORIAL Students returning to campus this week are not coming back to the same D.C. that they left behind in the spring. Over the summer, President Donald Trump has ramped up progress on his attempted transformation of D.C.’s landscape, from closing the Kennedy Center to draining the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool after botched renovations to engaging in heavy construction on the White House for his planned ballroom and helipad. Not to mention, the “summer surge” of National Guard troops now puts the troop count at almost 5,000, meaning students are likely to see more uniformed officers around GW’s campus. However, as we enter the new school year, we cannot allow Trump’s changes to D.C. to cloud our love for the city. At the end of the day, we should be grateful for the access to community, history and culture that the city provides us. Trump may try to make D.C. under his image with his renovations, but there is more to D.C. than its physical landscape. It is the people of D.C. who make the city what it is. In conjunction with the Trump-induced changes to the city, we have seen residents — in and outside of GW — come together in moments of unity to combat the takeover of the nation’s capital. This is the D.C. we need to embrace this upcoming year. While GW students have experienced the effects of Trump’s D.C. takeover since he first took office last January, this summer has seen an acute spike in noticeable transformations to the city, most recently the restoration of two gilded statues near the Lincoln Memorial. Students going on their beginning of the year monument walks may also notice an absence of water in the Reflecting Pool — a byproduct of Trump’s
CAROLINE MORRELLI | STAFF CARTOONIST
June renovations of the pool that led to an algae bloom. Those who may be looking to attend a show at the Kennedy Center may also soon be out of luck as the center’s Board voted again this month to shut down for two years of renovations and to reinstall Trump’s name on the building’s facade. This summer has also seen renewed concerns about residents having violent encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For many students, our time at GW seems to be widely defined by Trump’s antics. Many students only know Trump’s D.C., and that can create a jaded view of the city
that GW students are often so proud to call home. Students last year reported that the surge in National Guard troops on campus and ICE operations in D.C. made them feel unsafe. The easiest reaction is to reject D.C. because we are likening it to Trump, but that sort of reaction is admitting that D.C. is a reflection of whoever is in the White House. Given the fact that students are likely to see the effects of these changes throughout the remainder of their time at GW, we should be going out into the city and celebrating the parts of D.C. that Trump has not interfered with. While saying you have had an
Layoffs, administrative spending tell different stories about GW’s finances
B
y now, most students should be aware that GW is struggling financially, as the University has spent the last year navigating ongoing challenges to its fiscal health like declining international student enrollment and multi-million dollar losses from supporting the Medical Faculty Associates. As a result, layoffs at both the Milken Institute School of Public Health and the School of Medicine & Health Sciences have been announced in just the last two months. While academic schools have been forced to lay off staff and students have had to make do with pared-down resources, GW’s central administration continues to pay outside consulting firms to conduct certain University operations and add to the University’s real estate portfolio. If GW is to expect the support of the community during times of financial hardship, officials must ensure that students and faculty do not suffer alone under these changes, and top administrative officials feel the full effect of budget cuts.
Ethan Vargas Contributing Opinions Editor Throughout the past year, GW has made serious cuts to many of the University’s programs and resources. Officials in May announced that, entering fiscal year 2027, the school’s budget will be slashed by $46.5 million, marking the The GW
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second consecutive year of cuts. Moreover, officials laid off 43 staff members last academic year across a wide range of programs, including staff from GW Law, the School of Business and the SMHS to name a few. As for everyday student resources, walkin hours for the school’s Counseling and Psychological Services remain discontinued, as mental health crises affecting college students continue to rise. The Mount Vernon Express, GW’s shuttle system that provides transportation to and from their satellite campus, also struggles with reduced hours of service. While the University has responded to student feedback on some of the more egregious changes, like returning 24-hour operations to Gelman Library after hours were cut, the student body has still stayed and suffered many cuts that greatly impact the college experience. For GW to expect its student body to be understanding of these recent changes, officials must increase their transparency on what they are doing to reduce the University’s administrative budgets to combat GW’s financial woes. We appreciate certain efforts that demonstrate individual sacrifices made by officials, like when they first announced budget cuts last summer and announced that the University leadership team would take voluntary temporary salary reductions. However,
it is unclear how much these reductions are. This month The Hatchet reported that in 2024, University President Ellen Granberg’s nearly $2 million salary topped those of her predecessors, even when adjusted for inflation, and four top officials and employees received total pay increases of at least 10 percent. This trajectory of administrative spending while cutting back on educational resources cannot continue. While these specific actions do not reflect well on GW, not all of the University’s financial decisions have been objectionable. The decision to transfer financial support for the MFA from GW to Universal Health Services, for example, will do wonders for the University’s fiscal health, coming off multiyear losses brought on by the MFA. These changes chart a stable course for GW’s fiscal health by removing huge liabilities and attracting new undergraduates to sustain University operations far into the future. If officials want the GW community to give them grace during these difficult financial times, they need to demonstrate the sacrifices they are making. With these changes, the GW administration can expect the confidence of the student body in their work and that GW does care for the community it serves. —Ethan Vargas, a sophomore majoring in political science, is the contributing opinions editor.
#OnlyatGW moment has become a cliché by now, there is something to be said about the uniqueness of experiences GW’s campus offers us as college students. As GW students, we do have incredible access to the city that we should be grateful for. D.C. is a massive city with opportunities for us in every block. Most of the museums and attractions in D.C. are also free, which makes visiting many historic sites accessible. D.C. is made up of seven distinct wards, each with their own rich history and culture. This gives us the chance to escape Trump and get the most out of the city during some of our most formative years in this
large and beautiful place. If the Trump-imposed changes on the National Mall are getting too depressing, students can venture out of the Foggy Bottom bubble and familiarize themselves with D.C.’s diverse culture. The National Mall may be filled with history and beautiful sights, but so are other historic sites like Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights or the National Arboretum in Northeast D.C. to explore. Just because Trump is around our neighborhood and the National Mall, does not mean the whole District is affected. We still have the chance to explore as many places in D.C. and have similar fruitful experiences as we would have closer to campus. We do recognize that because the city itself is more politicized, some students may feel uncomfortable traveling up and down the District with heightened law enforcement presence. But this brings to light another aspect of the city that makes it worth celebrating: its culture of building community in the face of adversity. In the wake of Trump’s takeover, we have seen D.C. residents come together in extraordinary ways, from residents gathering outside. D.C. is a tight-knit community that will rally together and show up for each other. This isn’t Trump’s city, but the city of the people of D.C., and even if it’s for a short time, that includes us too. We know how beautiful D.C. is — and we shouldn’t forget that and keep moving forward and fighting for the city we know and love. There is a lot of doom and gloom when it comes to the Trump administration. But Trump should not get to define what D.C. is nor should he get to characterize what the city means to us and our college years.
In the age of AI, professors deserve our engagement in the classroom
W
ith the first week of classes comes the return of homework, classwork and professors begging students to not only attend, but participate in their classes. But ever since the pandemic, we have seen that student participation has declined, with fewer students participating in class or even showing up. The rise of technology usage in the classroom and, most recently, generative artificial intelligence, have only intensified this phenomenon. But this lack of engagement in class, which is exacerbated by AI, heavily affects professors who are meant to combat all of these factors that deter student engagement by themselves, when they are already overworked and underpaid. It is insulting to our own education to not take our classes seriously, but also to our professors who are trying to do their job. As a new school year begins, we should treat our education and professors with the respect and dignity that they deserve.
Andrea MendozaMelchor Opinions Editor Many professors are already overworked, sometimes working multiple jobs just to make ends meet due to the inadequate pay they receive all while conducting academic research. It is not enough to simply be considerate of our professors, but actually understand that when we
turn in work done by AI, it is not only unethical for masquerading it as our own work, but also an offense to our professors for turning in low-quality work and expecting them not to notice or forcing them to interact with it. Why should they spend hours upon hours carefully curating lesson plans if students are not going to engage with it and submit work that isn’t their own? I have expressed before that I have observed that students will do anything and everything in class besides actually doing classwork or listening to the lecture. AI usage in the classroom has also gotten so dire that it has been reported that some professors are citing it as the nail in the coffin in teaching, pushing them to retire early due to the high AI usage in their classrooms. Professors have expressed that student AI usage discourages them from continuing to teach because they feel their students are not actually engaging with their carefully curated curriculum. Professors at GW have voiced that they are unsure of how to navigate AI in the classroom and deal with cheating. Professors are putting in a lot of extra work trying to get their students to do what they are meant to be doing in the first place and that is an unsustainable model for both students and professors. How are professors supposed to teach students who do not want to learn? The whole point of
attending a higher education institution is primarily to learn more about a subject or career path. College is meant to challenge students and further their knowledge, reading, writing, creativity and critical thinking skills. A professor’s job is to teach students, but if students do not want to learn and simply cheat by using AI, it breaks the foundation on which a college education is founded on. We should not be using AI because it undermines our learning and undermines the job and responsibilities of our professors, who spend hours creating lesson plans and leaving feedback on our work. Professors are the backbone of our education and growth as young adults and they deserve to have their time and profession treated with respect. It is not asking much from students to do their work in class and actually write their papers — that is the bare minimum and what is expected the moment we accept our offer to GW. We are paying for a very expensive education and the least we can do is treat it as such and give our overworked professors their due respect. This school year, we need to remember the work that goes into teaching and that attending a university is a two-way effort between professors and students. —Andrea MendozaMelchor, a senior majoring in journalism and mass communication and creative writing, is the opinions editor.
Jenna Lee, editor in chief Molly St. Clair, managing editor Tyler Iglesias, managing editor Mollie Weiner, managing director Sachini Adikari, community relations director Gianna Jakubowski, senior news editor Ryan Saenz, senior news editor Adelaide Petras, assistant news editor Amelia Nelson, assistant news editor Arunmoy Das, assistant news editor Lakshmi Dev, assistant news editor Sarah Gross, assistant news editor Shivu Sathe, assistant news editor Diya Jhawar, contributing news editor Isaac Harte, contributing news editor Paris Albrecht, contributing news editor Andrea Mendoza-Melchor, opinions editor* Ethan Vargas, contributing opinions editor* Milo Rosenzweig, sports editor Sophia Caputo, contributing sports editor*
Ryan Jainchill, basketball editor Diana Anos, culture editor Jessica Rowe, contributing culture editor Carly Cavanaugh, contributing culture editor Mathylda Dulian, senior photo editor Carsten Holst, assistant photo editor – news Kris Park, assistant photo editor – news Lexi Critchett, assistant photo editor – sports Nicholas Ware, assistant photo editor – culture Marcel Richardson Villenas, video editor Misha Cohen, video editor Ethan Tsai, copy chief* Juwon Kim, copy editor Marlene Orantes, copy editor* Raina Pawloski, copy editor Kya Hoffman, research assistant* Louisa Hannoucene, research assistant Ida Liben, podcast host – news
Maddie Flesch, podcast host – news Aadarshini Vijesh, podcast host – culture Arjun Srinivas, podcast host – culture Livi Tuber, design editor Daniela Garcia Perez, contributing design editor Sofia Ang, graphics editor Madeleine Phillips, social media director Andrew Rooney, contributing social media director Victoria Smajlaj, contributing social media director Alex Batzar, ad sales manager Annika Krause, web developer Ryan J. Karlin, donor relations manager Arushi Agarwal, financial manager * denotes member of editorial board
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SPORTS
August 24, 2026 • Page 6
SPORTS
THE GW HATCHET
GAMES CRUNCH
vs. Furman University on Aug. 28 | 1:00 p.m.
vs. Navy on August 28 | 7:00 p.m.
OF THE WEEK
NUMBER
VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S SOCCER
14.6
GW Alum Jonquel Jones’ average points per game with the WNBA’s New York Liberty this season.
Volleyball integrates nine newcomers in renewed quest for A-10 crown MILO ROSENZWEIG SPORTS EDITOR
SOPHIA CAPUTO
CONTRIBUTING SPORTS EDITOR
On the heels of a firstround exit at the Atlantic 10 Championship last November, volleyball is refocusing its sights to the top of the conference, fueled by the added skill sets of a new crop of players. Following an impressive regular season performance last fall when the Revolutionaries went 19-12 in matches overall and 12-6 in the A-10 but concluded with a quarterfinals exit to sixth-seed Duquesne, Head Coach Katie Reifert has relied on the transfer portal and incoming freshman talent to address the gaps left after six players graduated in May. After a summer of chemistrybuilding and two exhibition matches, Reifert said she is guiding her team with a few core principles and a championship mindset. “I am preaching resilience, patience and full buy-in to the process to my group,” Reifert said in an email. “With so many new pieces, it’s naturally going to take a little time to work out the kinks, but the talent is absolutely there for us to be great.” The Revs finished last fall at the No. 2 spot in the A-10 standings, ranked third in assist and kill averages, with then-sophomore setter and captain Abby Markworth leading the team in the latter category. Now, Markworth is the only remaining captain
LEXI CRITCHETT | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR GW Head Coach Katie Reifert leads the team in a pregame huddle during an exhibition match against American University.
after last fall’s co-captains graduated, leading a team that includes five freshmen and four transfers. “My junior class has really stepped up and set the standard, while our newcomers have brought so much talent and personality to our team,” Markworth said in an email. Reifert’s squad is notably different from last fall’s, adding freshmen outside hitter Pilar Presson, setters Jaelyn Connole and Mackenzie
Krzus, libero Evie Huang and middle blocker Simone Assasie. The program also snagged two graduate students, including outside hitter and opposite hitter Nicanora Clarke from the University of Nevada and graduate middle blocker Yazmyn Billings from Arkansas State University. The team also added junior middle blocker and opposite hitter Emilia Arvidson from Hillsborough Community College and sophomore
outside hitter and opposite hitter Marin Harvey from the U.S. Military Academy. Reifert said that the number of new players joining the team prompted a concerted effort to build team chemistry over the summer. “With more newcomers than returners, building that team chemistry was definitely a priority for us,” Reifert said. “We were fortunate to have the majority of our team here during the summer to spend time to-
Water polo dives into season with expanded coaching staff, championship mindset SOPHIA CAPUTO
CONTRIBUTING SPORTS EDITOR
Water polo is plunging into the fall season with an emphasis on positional versatility and a renewed championship mindset following their run to the MidAtlantic Water Polo Conference finals last year. With 15 returning players on its 17-man roster, the Revolutionaries are relying on their established chemistry to speed up preseason training and integrate the expertise of a newly-expanded coaching staff. Head Coach Barry King is tasking his championshiptested roster with expanding their individual skill sets across the pool as they prepare to open their season against nationally ranked colleges in Southern California this weekend. “I think this year we’ve got to expect to be in that championship game and not just be happy that we got there,” King said. Last season, the team battled their way to the MAWPC Championship final for the first time in six years after a tight semifinal victory over Navy. The third-ranked Revs ultimately fell to fifth-ranked Fordham 9-16 to finish the season as conference runner-up. The historic postseason run was fueled by early momentum sparked in the program’s opening day victory over the University of California, Santa Barbara. Building on that strong foundation, the team secured a 16-16 overall record and a 7-5 MAWPC record, earning them the No. 3 seed heading into the MAWPC tournament. As the team prepares to return to near-championship heights, King said he was “pleasantly surprised” about the team’s physical readiness upon returning to campus two weeks ago. “This group feels very similar to what we had last year, and with that year of experience and maturity, some of Andrea’s classmates have returned after what seems to be a fairly productive summer in the weight room for a bunch of them,” King said. Forno said he worked to expand his overall game over the summer following his recordbreaking rookie season, including swimming with his siblings who also play water polo and going to the gym multiple days a week. Forno also played on his club team over the summer in his hometown of Rome, Italy, playing in two friendly tournaments in Rome and Los Angeles. He said that the physicality of playing Eu-
gether and form bonds before the start of preseason.” Markworth echoed Reifert’s sentiment and praised the immediate impact of the newcomers on the roster as the team returned to campus. “Coming to campus early was huge for our team because within the first two weeks, we could already see our freshmen getting comfortable both on and off the court,” Markworth said. “The five freshmen have
Men’s soccer works to finds its groove as team splits regular season openers MILO ROSENZWEIG SPORTS EDITOR
COURTESY OF GW ATHLETICS Sophomore center Andrea Forno keeps an opponent at bay during a game last season.
ropean water polo prepared him to return for the fast-paced U.S. collegiate game. “Water polo is kind of similar everywhere, but there are some differences, of course,” Forno said. “I would say that in Europe it’s a little bit more physically than in the U.S. but at the same time, the U.S. is a faster game, and I love it way more than in Italy because I love the high-intensity games.” To bring experience to the young roster, the program brought in former UCLA player and current GW Law student Cameron Reagan as an assistant coach last week. King said that having an experienced water polo player with a championship ring has been “quite the bonus,” especially since Reagan has played under some of the best water polo coaches in the country and brings a high-level of experience to help mentor the young roster. King added that coupling Reagan’s expertise with assistant coach Vasilije Marinkovic, who is transitioning to coaching after serving as the team’s graduate goalie last year, allows the coaching staff to break the team into specialized skill groups during practices, which has been very valuable. “Any kind of input from somebody who has the kind of experience that Cam has is going to be really, really valuable,” King said. “Because we have Vazi helping with the goalkeepers, and then I’m available, our ability to break up into skill groups, that’s pretty valuable, and something that we haven’t necessarily been able to do.” King said his goal is to have a roster of versatile utility players, making the sophomores and
juniors expand outside of their previous roles. He noted that centers are practicing on the outside, perimeter attackers are working in the center and all the players are learning to guard the center. With only two departures from last year’s team, Forno said the squad didn’t need to spend time on foundational team-building since they already knew each other’s tendencies. The roster’s vacancies were filled by first-year goalkeeper Solt Horvath from Budapest, Hungary, and junior utility transfer Konstantinos Kapragkos from Thessaloniki, Greece. Both players bring valuable experience to the roster, with Horvath having extensive international youth experience and Kapragkos bringing valuable collegiate experience after transferring from California State University, Long Beach. Horvath will take over in the net to replace last year’s graduated goalie and now assistant coach Marinkovic, while King expects Kapragkos’s experience as a versatile player to replace the stability that graduated senior Vlassis provided last season. “Our chemistry is probably one of our strongest points now,” Forno said. “With some of the guys, I can wave my head a little bit or just show my hand, and they know where I want the ball.” The Revs will test their new versatile lineup this weekend in Irvine, California, when they face off against top-15 West Coast powerhouse teams, including the University of California, Irvine and Loyola Marymount University. Following last year’s upset over UC Santa Barbara, the squad has already proven it can handle elite West Coast teams.
consistently raised the level in our gym while adding so many great pieces to our culture.” Reifert also said that having players with established NCAA game experience from the transfer portal adds “instant maturity and volleyball IQ” to the roster. “Compared to when I played, the portal gives us the flexibility to raise our standard overnight and plug holes instantly with proven talent,” Reifert said. Last season, the Revs had the second most digs in the A-10 with 124, a strong defensive performance. Reifert said she has confidence that her defense will remain solid this fall. “I think our back court defense is more reliable than it’s ever been,” Reifert said. “We are digging with more range and putting tough balls back in system. We’re still fine-tuning our offensive connections, but once those sync up, we’re going to be pretty dangerous to play against.” Reifert also emphasized the value of peaking at the right moment rather than expecting immediate perfection. “If we stay patient through the learning curve, keep grinding, and stay committed to getting better every single week, we’re going to peak right when it matters most at the end of the season,” Reifert said. For the players, steady week-by-week improvement points to one objective. “Our goal is simple: an A-10 Championship,” Markworth said.
Men’s soccer opened the regular season 1-1, falling to Old Dominion University 3-1 at home on Wednesday, before taking down Binghamton University 3-0 on the road Sunday. Wednesday’s match, was defined by a sluggish offensive performance on an oppressively humid afternoon. On Sunday, three goals, all assisted by senior forward Jaden Dubon, secured Head Coach Matt Watts’ first win. The Monarchs kicked off Wednesday’s match with an offensive surge. A shot from Old Dominion’s Jake Lane ricocheted off of Macauley’s chest and was recovered by the Monarchs. Forward Lewis Rourke then snuck a shot past Macauley and gave the Monarchs their first point of the match. Rourke managed to score once more, 25 minutes into the first half, giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead. Lane got the scoring started again for the Monarchs 12 minutes into the second half, giving the Monarchs a 3-0 lead, which they held until the final three minutes of the game. Revs’ junior midfielder Miguel Sosa, a recent transfer from Furman University, connected with senior forward Jaden Dubon on a free kick, who headed the ball past Old Dominion’s goalkeeper at the 87:13 mark. The Revs were unable to gain enough momentum to even the match in its final moments and fell 3-1, starting regular season competition with an 0-1 record. Watts, reflecting on the
defensive performance of the game, said the entire defensive block needs to improve. “It’s not our responsibility to kind of point fingers at guys at this point in time,” Watts said. “We’ve just got to get better as a unit back there.” Defensive organizational improvement has been one of Watts’ top priorities throughout the preseason. On Wednesday, Watts toyed with his defensive alignment throughout the match, playing freshman defenders Jeremy Meloney and Santiago Cremaschi as well as Foday Bangura, a graduate defender. On Sunday, the Revs jumped out in front of Binghamton early and kept their offense quiet. Graduate midfielder Webb Kosich got the scoring started for the Revs on an assist from Dubon and freshman forward Joe Brayson. Less than two minutes into the second half, Dubon and senior forward Yago Torres passed back and forth until Torres found the net, giving GW a 2-0 lead, and Dubon his second assist of the game. Another goal from junior midfielder Finn Roberts, the first in his career, assisted again by Dubon, gave the Revs the 3-0 lead. Sunday’s match saw the Revs defense draw the Bearcats offsides on five separate occasions. The effort was led by senior defender Colin Prendergast, junior defender Jake Poole, and Bangura, who each played all 90 minutes. GW will face off against the United States Naval Academy next, with the match slated for Friday.
NICHOLAS WARE | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Senior forward Jaden Dubon dribbles away from an opponent during Thursday’s game against Old Dominion University.
THE GW HATCHET
CULTURE
August 24, 2026 • Page 7
Welcome Back Guide 2 0 2 6 The Hatchet takes a look back at the history of GW’s residence halls DIANA ANOS
CULTURE EDITOR
Beyond the plastic mattresses and modern furniture of GW’s current residence halls lie over a hundred years of history from the thousands of former GW students who once lived in the same rooms current students will reside in this year. GW residence halls have come a long way since their inception on campus, with early dormitories in 1948 reserved for male athletes and war veterans and few GW students living on campus, much of the GW population lived at home or in the area. Former GW president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg told The Hatchet in 2006 that the dormitories of his time were “more attractive and less primitive,” than the halls that came before, citing increased accommodations for student privacy and comfort. “They’re still not luxurious for the most pa r t
because of cost issues,” Trachtenberg said. “And besides, college [residence halls] are not supposed to be a resort hotel, but neither are they supposed to be penal colonies.” From flooding and clogged drains to rumors of haunted halls, GW’s dorms have seen it all. Thanks to countless renovations through the years, the history of GW’s residence halls may not be physically apparent, but The Hatchet looked through the archives to find some tidbits of campus history throughout the years to learn more about the spaces GW students will call their homes this year.
as a men’s only dorm during its first few years on campus, but officials later turned the building co-ed, starting in 1972. Students of the University’s past believed the building to once be a mental institution or haunted, as St. John’s Episcopal Church orphanage used to lie near Mitchell Hall’s lot, but archives reveal the building was only ever a hotel before it transitioned to housing
Mitchell Hall
From malfunctioning elevators to students suffering from mold illness, Mitchell Hall has had its fair share of troubles over the past decade, resulting in a total renovation over the past year. Now boasting increased laundry facilities and a Chick-fil-a in the basement, Mitchell is almost unrecognizable. The now-residence hall was built in 1926 and was originally known as the All States Hotel, a cooperatively owned hotel, organized for women by women. The University purchased the building to become a residence hall in 1966, originally f u nc t io n i n g
GW students. Thomas Wilds, CEO of St. John’s Community services, which owned the orphanage, said the rumor may have started because the orphanage once stood nearby Mitchell. Following years of renovations, today, some lucky students will be the first on campus to get full-sized beds in their rooms.
Thurston Hall
Every student who has passed through the famed Thurston hall knows the residence for its crammed rooms, loud hallways and the occasional sea creature in the building’s communal bathrooms. Only five blocks away from the White House, almost every first year has roamed the residence hall — if they weren’t living there, they were stopping by the dining hall in the building’s basement, or hanging out with friends in one of the countless common areas that span across nine floors. The University purchased the building, originally called the Park Central apartments, in 1963, to become an allfemale residence hall, appropriately nicknamed by students as the Superdorm for its wide and towering presence on 19th and F streets. Differing from modern day standards, female students who resided in the Superdorm had to comply with a dress code and were not allowed to wear shorts, jeans or slacks in the building’s lounges and lobby. “What a girl does outside the dorm is her own business,” a resident said in her survey response. Students residing in the hall also had to follow curfews on all nights of the week, which proved controversial for some female students at the time. Residents in 1966 told The Hatchet in a survey
they wanted extended snack bar hours, as well soup and pastry options and an ice c r e a m machine, in addition to curfew reforms. The hall became co-ed in 1972 and was later desig nated as a firstyear only building. G W named the building after Mabel N e l s o n Thurston in 1967, in honor of her being the first female undergraduate student, admitted to the University in 1888. Thurston Hall’s most recent renovation lasted two years from 2020 to 2022, following complaints of outdated facilities, mold and leaks. Not only did the renovations provide much needed updates to the building’s infrastructure, but they also created additional common spaces that encourage community among students.
Francis Scott Key Hall
For the first time in the building’s history, FSK will only be welcoming first-year students this fall, as it was formerly reserved strictly for upperclassmen, with its wide hallways and crammed double rooms.
The residence hall was named for Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and songwriter of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and was formerly the Francis Scott Key Hotel. Although he served as the senior warden of GW Law School in 1865, it is not entirely clear through archives why GW chose to honor Key. Sitting on the corner of F and 20th Streets, FSK Hall was built in 1940 and fully renovated in 2019. The most recent renovation culminated in 2025, resulting in the removal of in-unit kitchens to make space for more beds. The name of the building has come under fire, as Key was an advocate for slavery, and a name change request has been sent to the office of the president, though it has not yet been addressed.
PHOTOS BY UNIVERSITY HISTORICAL MATERIALS COLLECTION, OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS RECORDS, NICHOLAS WARE
Hatchet staff shares their itinerary essentials for first years’ early days on campus GW HATCHET STAFF While many returning students and upperclassmen are buzzing with excitement for the return of a new school year in the District, first year students are just now settling into college life in a new city. Whether you’re coming to campus from a neighboring county or crossing state lines, The Hatchet staff has the must-do list for first-year students to ensure a year free of regret and full of memories.
Lock down your GW Deli order Ryan Saenz | Senior News Editor SAGE RUSSELL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lifestyle, Sport and Physical Activity Professor Brian Stamps poses for a portrait.
LSPA teachers introduce students to new modes of movement JESSICA ROWE
CONTRIBUTING CULTURE EDITOR
While politics discussion sessions and statistics recitations fill your schedule and stress your mind, GW’s Lifestyle, Sport and Physical Activity courses seek to offer a relaxing respite on your hectic calendar. This semester’s LSPA classes feature over 26 one-credit offerings with courses like golf, meditation, tai chi and zumba. While some some courses require an additional fee ranging from $14 to $550 for equipment, all classes are intended for beginners to learn a new activity, relax and have some fun.
Reiki with Brian Stamps
Brian Stamps, an LSPA instructor, said he teaches six LSPA courses of studio strength training, cardio kickboxing, aikido self defense, kenjutsu, jujutsu and reiki, a new course offering this year. After training as a reiki master for seven years in Northern Virginia under an Usui Reiki grand master, Stamps said he hopes to give students the opportunity to experience the calming effects of reiki, an energy healing method where practitioners place their hands
lightly on or just above one’s body to reduce stress and ease pain. Unlike the strength training and cardio kickboxing courses which work in a follow the leader format, Stamps said the reiki course will resemble a traditional academic class including lectures about the methods of reiki.
Yoga with Stephen Redmon
Stephen Redmon, an LSPA professor who teaches five sections of yoga, said he has taught yoga and holistic health and wellness for 25 years, and his courses aim to give students the skillsets to promote lifelong health and wellness while improving their mental health. Redmon said he started his yoga practice at a young age, learning skills in mindfulness from his grandma that inspired him to go on to start teaching at GW in 2008 after taking yoga and tai chi classes at Colgate University in his undergraduate years. Redmon said he structures his classes through a balance of physical activity and discussion, teaching students about the science of yoga, including anatomy and physiology while also following a yoga flow with
instructions on the intention behind each movement, incorporating practices like mediation and breathing techniques throughout.
Fencing with Sarah Poncet Landolt
Sarah Poncet Landolt, the only current LSPA fencing instructor, said she wanted to teach the course to give students an opportunity to try a sport that they might otherwise not have the chance to try as fencing is a less accessible sport due to high cost and limited facilities in D.C. Poncet Landolt said she teaches foil, one of fencing’s three weapons typically used by beginners because of its light weight, in addition to coaching GW’s club fencing team. She said she joined GW club fencing as a graduate student when she attended GW from 2021-2023 and began teaching the LSPA course in 2025 after the previous instructor retired. She said the sport combines athleticism and strategy, and students can use the course as a way to destress and have fun. “It’s an easy way to get into the sport that’s usually a pretty expensive starting cost without having to pay anything,” Poncet Landolt said.
Among the office spaces and GW academic buildings on G street lies the GW Delicatessen — an institution that came to campus the same year World War II ended, over 80 years ago. Serving generations of revolutionaries since its inception, it should be considered a rite of passage for any first-year in Foggy Bottom — or Mount Vernon — to perfect their GW Deli order before the fall semester is in full swing. Boasting a sprawling menu, it might take a few rounds before one can find their ideal order. From the baseline egg and cheese or BLT, customizations become endless, but make sure to take the time to test out each one.
Linger in your residence hall Shivu Sathe | Assistant News Editor
Every fall, the streets of Foggy Bottom fill with a young new class of GW students, all looking to find their place, and while it might be tempting to stay in the comfort of a freshly decorated dorm room, take a risk and venture through the halls and common areas that fill your first year residence hall. No matter how cliché it may be, the Thurston lounges during welcome week are essential to the GW student experience. Join a group of people experimenting with ingredients in the communal kitchens or watching the upcoming Love Island reunion.
Attend GW events Molly St. Clair | Managing Editor
When I started my first year at GW, I was still riding the high of seniority from my last year in high school. One minute you’re the oldest person roaming the halls of your small school, and the next, you’re surrounded by veteran college students. Despite my reservations, my roommate and I swallowed our pride and traversed to the Mount Vernon Campus for the annual Vern Community Cookout, simply because we had nothing better to do. In your first few weeks on campus, embrace the activities you might deem lame. Go to the national mall kickback, first year mixers and all of the other sometimes painful welcome week activities. You never know who you’ll meet, and if nothing else, you’ll walk away with a stomach full of free food.
NICHOLAS WARE | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Students play giant connect four at a cookout hosted by GW Black Men’s Initiative.
THE GW HATCHET
CULTURE
August 24, 2026 • Page 8
Welcome Back Guide 2 0 2 6 Battle of the GW bars: a night out at Casta’s and Marshall’s CARLY CAVANAUGH CULTURE COLUMNIST
DIANA ANOS
CULTURE EDITOR
For most college students, having a tried-andtrue college bar — a home base for Saturday nights filled with socialization and sips — is an integral aspect of their university years. But on an urban campus like GW, where an abundance of nightlife options span across neighborhoods, there are few near-campus, strictly-
twenty-something locales for students to frequent that feel like their own. We feel, however, that there are two contenders that come close to that traditional, college bar feel, filled with familiar faces and free of the frills of DuPont Circle clubs. Casta’s Rum Bar and Marshall’s Bar & Grille, two West End-area spots, fill their spaces with GW students after nightfall, positioned steps away from campus for a quick walk and guarantee of seeing a classmate or friend. On a journalistic mission, we spent a Friday evening at Casta’s and Marshall’s to scope out the atmosphere, the clientele and ultimately d e t e r m i n e whether or not the bars live up to the title of “GW’s college bar.” Ca st a’s Rum Bar opened its doors in 2019, after o w n e r A r i a n
Castaneda wanted to bring a piece of his Cuban heritage to the District. In partnership with Versus Equity, a D.C. lifestyle and hospitality agency, Casta’s serves up dishes like huevos habanos and Cuban grilled cheese for brunch and offers a 5-7 p.m. happy hour to guests. Friday, we stepped into Casta’s at around 10:15 p.m., greeted by an older crowd, dim lighting and quite a few empty chairs. The cavernous downstairs area is lined by a long, sleek bar, with bartenders mixing mojitos, slipping limes into Coronas and chatting with customers. Some patrons sat at small tables, and as we walked further into the space, a small set of stairs led us to the better lit bar in the back. As we sat at a high top table upstairs, students slowly began trickling in as the night progressed. At around 11:15, the space to walk narrowed as young people approached the bar to get a drink and kick off their nights. When we left at around 11:30, some were waiting in a short line to get in. We promptly moseyed over a few blocks to Marshall’s, where young people were scattered on
the sidewalk and outdoor seating area, chatting with friends and running into acquaintances. Since this was the first proper weekend of the semester, we ourselves saw some people for the first time in months. Contrasting from Casta’s interior, Marshall’s boasts a sports bar-like appearance, with a GW flag on the wall, a wooden bar, TV screens and chairs scattered throughout the space. In the back, a few tables and booths were packed under semi-bright lights. Upstairs, there once was a beloved free pool table, but an owner said misuse by patrons led to them taking it away. Now, the room sits with couches, sans table. Roza Nahar, co-owner of Marshall’s Bar & Grille alongside her husband, said her husband took ownership of Marshall’s around 17 years ago with the spot itself opening in 1973. She said GW students have always made up the fabric of the institution, working as bartenders — Nahar said she has a photograph from the 1980s of a student bartender — and filling the bar once it hits 10 p.m. Though they saw a lull in business during the pandemic, she said
“everybody knows about Marshall’s” now. Acting as a joint dive-and-sports bar, they host Thursday trivia nights, accept GWorld for discounted food purchases, boast daily 5-7 p.m. happy hours and offer Wednesday night student drink specials. On Sunday-Thursday, they close at 1 a.m., but keep their doors open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Marshall’s only has a few employees, she said, and the GW-student bartenders bring their friends in regularly. She said she only hires inexperienced bartenders, helping teach college students the tricks of the trade and giving them an opportunity to make “quick cash.” She said the bar’s proximity to campus has solidified its role as the GW college bar. Nahar said she sees some students 2-3 times a week — some even helping her and her husband
close the bar, flipping the chairs and clearing the bar top. Those campus regulars, she said, try to encourage their friends to come to Marshall’s as well. They’re “devoted” to the site, refraining from going to other bars and instead staying loyal to the L Street dive. “That’s more my main goal was to bring this college campus to the bar and just enjoy,” she said. “Not be a chaotic bar, it’s just an enjoyment bar — not a pub, not a club, a dive bar. A locals dive bar.”
PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS WARE
Matthew David Hamilton, GW’s new theorist on the block CARLY CAVANAUGH CULTURE COLUMNIST
Growing up within the Southern Baptist Church, and now a Catholic, Matthew David Hamilton — the new director of the Politics & Values program — said he originally planned on becoming a minister, boasting a bachelor’s in pastoral ministry from the Moody Bible Institute. But he found he liked “questions more than answers,” and the path of ministry called for giving people answers to grapple with their traumas rather than suggesting a variety of ways to think about the issues at hand. Academia, he said, was better suited for him. Originally planning on teaching theology, he said he received his master’s from the Princeton Theological Seminary, but found the discipline lacked “a grounding in politics.” So he earned his doctorate in political science and government from Georgetown University, spent nearly a year working for their Initiative on Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Citizenship and, beginning this semester, has made the move to GW — assuming the role of an assistant professor and heading the Politics & Values program, teaching its
yearlong course. I met Hamilton at Tatte on I Street on Saturday morning, his briefcase in hand, where he told me he “could not be more excited” to get started teaching his new cohort of students. We discussed his new position, impressions of campus, political theory and how his cross-disciplinary expertise will translate to his time teaching on the Mount Vernon Campus. Here’s what he had to say. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Cavanaugh: What does the Politics & Values program entail? Hamilton: Politics & Values is a living-and-learning community, so it is a first-year program for first-year students who are coming into GW. It usually draws from the political science department and the Elliott School of International Affairs. So it usually draws from those, and it is essentially a batch of anywhere between 20 and 40 students who take a 12-credit-hour, yearlong course that covers all the basics of political science. Cavanaugh: As a Georgetown alum and former employee, how do you feel about making the switch over to GW? Did you ever sense a rivalry between the two schools while you were there? Hamilton: When I initially
got to Georgetown, I was always interested in what you might call moral political philosophy. Again, kind of like a connection between practical questions and theory, and most of the people at Georgetown are more interested in doing historical work. So I initially was kind of like, “Wait, what’s going on here? I didn’t realize this was what I signed up for.” Professor Lucia Rafanelli gave a talk at Georgetown in my first few months of being there, and I was immediately like, “That’s what I want to do, and that’s what I thought I was doing.” I can’t speak for the students, I don’t have my finger on the pulse with regard to the way the undergrads might feel about each other. But as far as I’m concerned, I feel like I’ve always been a part of both worlds, and I’m beyond excited to be a part of the GW community. Cavanaugh: What are you most looking forward to about joining the GW community? Hamilton: Being back in the classroom is the simplest thing. I know that students come to GW, many of them come to GW for politics, and they come to be involved in politics and to work on the Hill, and because they’re very motivated and interested in building out a career in high-
KRIS PARK | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Politics and Values Program Director Matthew David Hamilton poses for a portrait.
influence, policy-adjacent spaces. That to me is the exact kind of student that I want to be working with. Cavanaugh: Students’ consensus about living on the Mount Vernon Campus is kind of mixed. How do your first impressions of both campuses compare to each other? Hamilton: I live in Foggy Bottom — my wife did her PhD at GW, it was easy for us to live here and for her to be at GW. We commuted to Georgetown on
Capital Bikeshare, and I love the Mount Vernon Campus. I think it’s beautiful. It’s a really nice break from the concrete jungle that we have here, which I love. I’m a card-carrying urbanist who likes to ride bikes and take the Metro, but at the same time, being able to go out there — the nice open green spaces, the older architecture — I find it very rustic. It has a real robust liberal arts college feel that I like, and so I am full-on committing to it being my home.
This semester, find DC’s riffs, rhythms beyond the big-name venues
NICHOLAS WARE
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
When it comes to seeing shows in D.C., most students are familiar with the popular spots like The Anthem and Capital One Arena that flaunt the capacity to host artists with millions of Instagram followers
and thousands of fans. But if tours like Charli xcx’s “Music, Fashion, Film” or Malcolm Todd’s “Do That Again” rolling through the District this fall don’t strike the right chord for you as you plan out your semester, consider escaping the mainstream for a night to one of D.C.’s many independent music venues. The District’s beats can be felt in any ward, you just have to know where to look.
Pie Shop DC
A Yelp review from 2023 for Pie Shop DC reads “Love this place, minus the very loud rock m u s i c
from upstairs.” The very loud rock music, however, captures the heart of Pie Shop DC, a rock venue located in the Historic H Street Corridor. In 2018, the venue, formerly a pie store named Dangerously Delicious Pies, rebranded their H St. NE storefront’s second floor into a full-fledged bar and music venue. Independently women-owned and operated, Pie Shop is unpretentious, heart-warming, and humble — much like their pies.
Transmission DC
hardcore punk kids, adding a haven of inclusivity to the sprawling list of D.C. nightclubs and rave venues. You feel it when you walk in the door — not just an emotional feeling, but literally — the loud, unmistakable thump of a heavy rhythmic bass pressing on your chest as you cross from the outside into what feels like an entirely new world. Transmission, the queerowned and operated H Street Corridor venue has cul-
Tra n s m i s sion DC offers a dance and music community for everyone from ravers to
COLLAGE BY NICHOLAS WARE
tivated a community-first space since opening its doors in October of last year. You can explore the entry level dance floor, which usually features artists who lean towards harder techno, the second floor, where DJs will man a stage all night long, or take a break from the beats on Transmission’s rooftop, which is generally coated in a haze of cigarette smoke.
DC9
There’s a strange homey appeal to a dive bar — from air still smelling of yesterday’s beer to food that would make a health inspector reexamine their life choices. DC9 takes the essence of a dive bar and adds on some grungy guitar riffs to cultivate a music listening experience for patrons. Established in 2004 by Bill Spieler and his wife Amber Bursik, DC9 has become a stepping stone for local bands and national alternative acts alike — being the first stage some musicians play on their road to fame and hosting artists like Phoebe Bridgers and The 1975 early in their careers. Though the venue can be easy to miss; a red and black brick rowhome on the corner of U St. and 9th St. NW marked only by a black awning bearing the
venue’s name, passersby can hear the indie rock blaring out of its walls.
Songbyrd Music House
Songbyrd Music House has been a staple of D.C.’s music scene since originally opening its doors in Adams Morgan in 2015 on the site of the iconic Showboat Longue, a former D.C. jazz club home to local legend Charlie Byrd. But Songbyrd’s dedication to the District’s music scene extends far beyond just a namesake, even after relocating to a larger Union Market location in 2021. The venue has dedicated itself to uplifting small bands, both local and national, and creating an atmosphere that blends with the indie and alternative rock bands like DMV band Gerf or French pop singer vendredi sur mer that have performed on their stage. Walk through Songbyrd’s large garage doors and under the bright Songbyrd sign, marked by two large birds painted on to the venue’s façade, grab a drink at the bar opposite the stage and listen to tunes spanning across musical genres. Upcoming Shows: The Missing Peace, Cardinals, Tobi Lou, Robert Lester Folsom, Swapmeet.