Monday, May 20, 2019 I Vol. 116 Iss. 3
WWW.GWHATCHET.COM
AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904
‘There is wasted
no opportunity’ —SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
SARAH URTZ | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Savannah Guthrie, the co-host of the NBC morning show, “Today,” delivered the Commencement address to graduates.
ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Class of 2019 graduated at the base of the Washington Monument Sunday.
Guthrie calls on graduating students to embrace challenges JARED GANS & LIA DEGROOT ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS
Savannah Guthrie landed a job in broadcast television right out of college – only to be fired 10 days later after the station shut down. But if it wasn’t for her setback, she said, she would have never found work at a “better” newsroom afterward using the skills she learned from her 10-day stint. Guthrie said her experience of finding work, hitting rock bottom and then seeking the motivation to bounce
back taught her “there is no wasted opportunity.” Guthrie, now the cohost of the NBC News morning show “Today,” called on graduates to embrace risks and enjoy their journeys to success at the University’s Commencement ceremony on the National Mall Sunday. She told students that the most formative experiences in their lives will come from how they handle their biggest challenges. Guthrie said she thought about what she would have wanted to know when she moved to D.C. for the first time
to prepare for her Commencement address. “And then it hit me,” Guthrie said. “It’s simple. Power it off, then power it back on. It’s not a metaphor. When your device freezes, you should try that. It often works.” After graduating from the University of Arizona and working in broadcast journalism for several years, Guthrie said she put her dream of being a journalist on hold to go to law school at Georgetown University. She said after she graduated, she secured a position as a clerk for a federal judge
that was “the opportunity that young lawyers clamor for,” but she realized it was not her dream and quit to pursue journalism once again. Guthrie urged graduates to embrace the challenges they face in their careers and personal lives after graduation and not to focus too much on achieving a certain end goal or level of success. “The effort, the things you learn, the skills you acquire on the way, and most importantly, the people you keep company with – that is the whole point,” Guthrie said. She told graduates she has read several books about people who have climbed Mount Everest and experienced “summit fever,” in which they became so set on reaching the top that they physically wore themselves out. She warned students to avoid experiencing their own “summit fever” and instead take time to enjoy the moments in their journey. “Things have a way of working out and life can handle a few of your missteps – even your biggies,” Guthrie said. “The times you ruined your life, you didn’t. You may leave your path, but your path doesn’t leave you.” Commencement was held at the base of the Washington Monument in intense heat. About 26,000 graduates, family members and friends attended the ceremony, which began at about 9:30 a.m. and was led by Provost Forrest Maltzman. Graduates also heard
Carbonell prioritized students, shared governance during tenure MEREDITH ROATEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
At his last Board of Trustees meeting Friday, Chairman Nelson Carbonell still jotted down notes on a sheet of paper while Student Association leaders delivered their annual report. One focus of Carbonell’s tenure as board chair has been expanding student engagement and representation on the board: Two years ago, Carbonell increased the student presence on board committees and task forces, and this year, he voted with trustees to approve a free 18th credit following a student referendum showing broad support for the change. At the meeting, Carbonell thanked the students for their leadership and told the board that working with the SA has been “fantastic” and worthwhile to help improve the student experience. “It’s the most fun part of the whole job,” Carbonell told incoming board chair Grace Speights. “And believe it or not, you will learn a lot by spending time with our students, they’re really, truly an asset.” Carbonell stepped up to the role of board chair in 2013 after serving as the vice chair for 11 years. Under his tenure, trustees approved reduced laundry, printing, and rental room costs, oversaw the construction of the Science and Engineering Hall
remarks from University President Thomas LeBlanc, recipients of honorary degrees and Tyriana Evans, a member of the Class of 2019. LeBlanc charged the graduating class to maintain their “commitment to a lifetime of learning.” He said students should work to expand their empathy for others. “We cannot and should not ignore our differences,” he said. “We are better when we understand them and when we learn from them.” LeBlanc awarded honorary degrees to Guthrie, aerospace scientist Christine Darden and philanthropist Cindy McCain for their achievements and contributions to their respective fields. The recipients were introduced by graduates Matthew Lish, Peak Sen Chua and Samantha Lemieux, respectively. Darden said that when she started college, she followed her father’s suggestion to get a teaching certificate in mathematics and physics because she felt less prepared than her classmates, who had had the chance to take more advanced math classes in high school. But she said she continued to challenge herself and take advanced classes, which prepared her to become a research assistant and pursue a master’s degree in applied mathematics before joining the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “I did what my dad suggested, but I also de-
Faculty push for more library funding after student gift revenue plunges JARED GANS ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
ALEXANDER WELLING | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
At his last board meeting, Carbonell thanked SA leaders and officials for their work. and most recently over- mented in 2004 and Knapp said. Knapp added that hauled the faculty code, limited tuition increassupported a document that speci- es to about 3 percent Carbonell efforts to boost the fies professors’ rights each year, Knapp said. “I would say that number of applications and responsibilities. “I will personally be his dedication to stu- from low- and middlepopulations. forever grateful to have dents was shown in his income Nelson to bring GW philanthropy, his own During Carbonell’s tento this point,” Univer- scholarships, support- ure, officials dropped testing sity President Thomas ing my emphasis on standardized LeBlanc said at a board affordability and ac- requirements for applimeeting Friday. “Al- cess and the success of cants in 2015, which led ways prioritizing qual- students,” Knapp said. to a surge in applicaity, providing sound, “We worked together tions the next academic controlled guidance particularly to make year. “We have always and doing what is right it possible to maintain that commitment to tried to find a place for this University.” students.” where we could have Under Carbonell’s access to GW for a Putting students tenure as chair, trustees broad array of stufirst Former University have upped the number dents,” Carbonell said. President Steven Knapp of dining dollars allo- “The sticker price of said Carbonell helped cated to students each GW is really high, and maintain a low cost of year for the past three it’s not affordable by attendance by pushing years to address food most people. But we’re able to bring many stufor increases to the Uni- insecurity concerns. “He was very much dents here because of versity’s financial aid pool, which has grown about giving back and scholarship programs.” each year since 2014. enabling other students Carbonell also sup- to enjoy the benefit that ported the fixed tuition he had from the opporSee CARBONELL Page 2 policy that was imple- tunity to attend GW,”
cided to take a step in solving this roadblock that I had run into,” Darden said. She said graduates should evaluate what they enjoy doing and what they are passionate about to decide where to work if they are not currently certain about their path. “Try to move in that direction and to move or go around any roadblocks or detours that you may encounter,” she said. “Most important, however, keep moving and persist.” McCain told students to continue to live with grace and humility, two things she learned from her late husband, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. “I’d like you to remember that in the decisions and the things that you will make as you leave this University today, please remember, always be true to yourself,” McCain said. “Do everything you do from your heart.” Evans, who received her degree in journalism and mass communication at the ceremony, told graduates they have already conquered many of their fears – like the fear of being away from home, not making friends and not passing a class – and encouraged them to continue to do so using what they have learned during their time at GW. “In spite of every opposition, you made it,” Evans said. “You are the epitome of perseverance, never giving up, triumphing time and time again.” —Lizzie Mintz contributed reporting.
About a year after officials stopped automatically including a voluntary library gift on students’ bills, faculty are urging officials to increase funding for GW’s libraries. The Faculty Senate’s libraries committee released a report last month fi nding that several campus libraries lost more than 90 percent of their revenue from student donations after trustees voted in February 2018 to change the voluntary student gift from an opt-out to an opt-in structure. The funding gaps could cause libraries to cut resources like database subscriptions and books, reducing the quality of student and faculty research, according to the report. “We recognize and support the reasoning for the change in student fee structures; however, these fees funded items that directly contributed to student experience and the loss of this revenue will impact student experience,” the report states. Students were previously required to opt out of paying the $100 library gift. The new system has caused the number of students paying the gift to Gelman, Eckles and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus libraries to drop about 95 percent – amounting to about $1.2 million – according to the report. Geneva Henry, the dean of libraries and academic innovation, said the three libraries received $300,000 this academic year to offset a portion of the drop in revenue. She said the aid will be increased annually in increments of $125,000 until 2022, peaking at $675,000.
“The Faculty Senate Committee on Libraries has expressed concern about the significant loss of funding while recognizing that the new model is a positive change for students,” Henry said in an email. She said the libraries use gift funds to pay for upgrades to furniture and study tools like electrical outlets, desks, whiteboards and computers. Henry said that before the donation model switched, library officials planned to use the funds to increase student seating and create “flexible” places for studying and teaching over the next five to 10 years. The reduction in funding comes amid rising prices for library materials like database subscriptions and budget cuts for non-academic units of 20 to 25 percent that began in 2017, she said. “Although collections, purchase of books and electronic resources were exempted from these reductions, the extreme inflation in journal and database subscriptions results in decreased purchasing power every year,” Henry said. Holly Dugan, the chair of the libraries committee and an associate professor of English, said GW’s libraries will purchase fewer resources each year that the lost funds are not fully replaced. “Gelman Library is one of the most used buildings on our campus, so we were really concerned about what that might mean in years going forward, because we’re going to see a compounding of this shortfall,” Dugan said. See LIBRARIES Page 2
NEWS
May 20, 2019 • Page 2
News May 20, 2019 • Page 2
CRIME LOG
LEWD, OBSCENE ACTS/SEX OFFENSE
Duques Hall 5/9/2019 – 7:50 a.m. Closed Case A female student reported to the GW Police Department that she observed a non-GW affiliated male performing lewd acts on the fifth floor of Duques Hall. GWPD responded to the scene and canvassed the building but did not locate the suspect. No identifiable suspect
SEXUAL ASSAULT, THREATS TO DO BODILY HARM, SIMPLE ASSAULT (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE)
Off Campus 5/10/2019 – Midnight Closed Case A male student reported that his roommate, Joowon Lee, assaulted him at their off-campus housing accommodation. The student reported to the Metropolitan Police Department that he and the other student were arguing about leaving property at the residence while one student was away. The student grabbed the reporting student’s arms and struck him with his forehead. The reporting student responded by striking the other student with his forehead. The two both sustained minor cuts and bruises, and emergency personnel treated the students on scene. MPD officers arrested the second student and transported him to the Second District police station. The reporting student later received threatening emails from the arrested student, according to the GWPD report. Lee declined to comment. Subject arrested
THE GW HATCHET
Carbonell collaborated with officials, faculty to meet fundraising goals and amend faculty code From Page 1
Fundraising for the future
While serving as board chair, Carbonell has made a series of large donations to GW, including $2.5 million to help fund the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Initiative in 2014 and thousands to match donations from the Class of 2013 to their senior gift. Carbonell said the “best” philanthropic gift he has made to GW was to establish the Nelson and Michele Carbonell Engineering Endowed Scholarship in 2010 to assist engineering students. Carbonell received his electrical engineering degree in 1985 from GW on a scholarship. “It feels like I’m paying it forward, it’s just fantastic,” Carbonell said. “I hope to lead people to do that because one of the ways that you make it more affordable is by having philanthropic support for scholarships.” Allan From, a former trustee who stepped down from the board in 2016, said Carbonell’s leadership helped officials reach their $1 billion fundraising goal, set in 2014, ahead of schedule. The capital campaign, which was the largest in GW’s history, raised funds
for financial aid and construction projects. “He traveled all over the country with the president and convinced them that the University was a good place to invest in,” he said. Aside from donations, Carbonell had a hand in some of the most influential financial decisions in the last six years. When graduate enrollment dropped in 2015, leaving a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, Carbonell led the board as administrators announced budget cuts and slashed $8 million in funding from the strategic plan. Officials decided to introduce 3 to 5 percent budget cuts for the following five years after an enrollment drop. “Nelson is a bulldog,” From said. “He really is, in terms of when he puts his mind to something, he gets focused.”
Focus on shared governance
Robert Chernak, the former senior vice president for Student and Academic Support Services, said Carbonell was one of the most “personable” chairs he worked with. His town halls with faculty, students, staff and alumni during the presidential search process
helped improve transparency, he said. “Nelson Carbonell has been the most hands-on chair, devoting several hours of his time to GW,” he said. “He’s been very generous.” Chernak said that when he worked with Carbonell, the board chair dedicated as much time to his chairmanship as he would to a full-time job and tried to garner input from faculty leadership on issues like a yearslong overhaul of the faculty code that began in 2013 and ended with a board vote in 2015. During that process, Carbonell met with more than 600 faculty, which resulted in the creation of a University-wide tenure committee. But some professors said Carbonell’s management of the review sparked tension between the board and faculty members who said they did not have enough say in the process. Donald Parsons, a professor of economics and a former member of the Faculty Senate who served during the code overhaul, said Carbonell rushed the process to reform the code, reducing faculty members’ ability to provide adequate input. “He never got the idea that it was a partnership,”
he said. “There was no sense of community.” Carbonell said that as chair, he helped diversify the board in terms of race, gender and professions represented. “GW is doing everything from the arts to medicine,” he said. “You can’t have a board where everybody comes from a single profession, or everybody comes from a single walk of life, or where everybody’s male, or whatever all those things are.” Carbonell added that he helped reduce the size of the board from more than 40 members to about 20, which has enabled every member to make a significant contribution in its discussions. He also helped recruit trustees who can offer insights about the University’s strategic planning process, rather than those who may only provide philanthropic support, he said. “There are people who have been on the board who are really famous and prominent people,” Carbonell said. “But that’s not why you’re here. You’re here because of your ability to do the work, to understand the issues and to act as a steward for the institution.” -Zach Schonfeld contributed reporting.
Law, medical school libraries hit by change in gift
DESTROYING/DEFACING STRUCTURES
Mitchell Hall 5/11/2019 – Unknown Closed Case GWPD responded to a report of broken ceiling tiles on the second floor of Mitchell Hall. The tiles appeared to have been punched. No suspects or witnesses
STALKING
Public Property on Campus Multiple – Multiple Closed Case A female student reported to GWPD that an unknown male subject stalked her. No suspects or witnesses
DC/THROWING OBJECTS FROM BUILDING
Shenkman Hall Unknown – Unknown Closed Case An anonymous person reported to GWPD that they observed students throwing miscellaneous objects out of a Shenkman Hall window. No suspects or witnesses
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT: HIT AND RUN 600 Block of 23rd Street NW 5/15/2019 – 8:15 a.m. Closed Case A contractor reported to GWPD that an unknown vehicle struck a Vern Express shuttle bus and fled the scene. MPD responded to the scene and issued a report. Referred to MPD
—Compiled by Lia DeGroot
FILE PHOTO BY ALEXANDER WELLING | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Holly Dugan, the chair of the Faculty Senate libraries committee, said GW’s libraries will purchase fewer resources each year that the lost funds are not fully replaced.
From Page 1 Dugan said student donations to the Jacob Burns Law Library experienced the sharpest decrease, dropping 99 percent compared to last academic year. The law library took in less than $1,000 in student fees this year compared to about $68,000 last year, she said. Scott Pagel, the associate dean for information services and the director of the law library, said library officials purchased fewer books and databases this year because
of the switch to the opt-in system. The library has not received any additional funding from the law school to compensate for the loss of funding, he said. “The budget of the law library has been reduced in recent years, but not by this much and not to the degree that we have been unable to continue operations or provide services as usual,” Pagel said in an email. Dugan, the chair of the libraries committee, said 15 students in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences this academic year chose to
pay the voluntary gift to the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. She said the funding had been used in the past to pay for subscriptions to two academic journals, Access Medicine and DynaMed Plus. “That impact of student fees in Himmelfarb went to fund subscriptions to those two publishing journals, and that’s going to impact a broader band of students who use that,” she said. Students are currently still able to access the two journals through Himmelfarb Library. Dugan said committee members have proposed a
few steps to improve the financial situation of the University’s libraries, asking officials to allocate funding to libraries to make up for the loss in revenue from the gift and to review other universities’ methods for handling budget difficulties. Members agree that the University should not return to the optout system, she said. “What we really want to see moving forward is having our library system fully funded in the ways that it needs to be, given its centrality to the academic mission of GW,” Dugan said.
NEWS
May 20, 2019 • Page 3
THE GW HATCHET
Board of Trustees approves updates to student code of conduct ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The Board of Trustees voted Friday to approve updates to several sections of the student code of conduct, including revised language, definitions and guidelines outlined. The updates will go into effect July 1, according to a University release. Officials and students said the updates to the code will clarify existing conduct guidelines and expand opportunities for students to reconcile conflict with one another instead of merely handing out punishments. “I am hoping that we will replicate that in various forms and I’m hoping that we’ll receive more feedback and more student participation,” said Christy Anthony, the director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The SRR office overhauled the code in October after completing its first review since 1996. The office then updated the code based off of student feedback solicited from listening sessions hosted in the months following the review, but only seven students attended five different sessions. The updates changed the code to allow complainants to participate in all conduct violation case proceedings, require student organizations to consult with officials before the University rules on conduct violation cases and permit students to engage in spontaneous gatherings on campus. Definitions for terms like “discriminatory harassment” and “unlawful discrimination” were also
to reflect how the University generally does not force students to “disperse” from spontaneous gatherings. “Really what we’re doing is codifying a current practice that I think is a really good one,” she said.
manage,’” she said. Dean of the Student Experience Cissy Petty said emphasizing “restorative justice” in the code will help make GW’s culture less “transactional.” She wants to establish expectations for “civil behavior” in residence halls and campus facilities, Petty said. “In some ways when you read the code, it could be a transactional, ‘You did this, and this is what’s going to happen to you,’” she said. “At many Jesuit colleges, restorative justice is a big deal, meaning that people have a chance to repair relationships and repair community damage.”
SHANNON MALLARD
Accommodating present circumstances
Anthony said members serving on the committee on the judicial system still cannot adjudicate cases involving students they know personally. She said having more members will help the committee assemble faster and avoid “undue” delays in the appeals process. She added that the committee on the judicial system will be renamed to the “appeals court” to more accurately reflect its function – hearing students’ appeal cases. Petty, the dean of the student experience, said having more committee members will help officials avoid delays in hearing appeals cases in the event that members have to remove themselves from cases because they know a student involved. “In particular, if a student knows a student on the board, it takes time to then recuse that person and get a new person,” Petty said. Student Association President SJ Matthews said the updates to the code will better serve issues the University encounters in the present day, as a full-scale review had not been conducted since 1996. “GW and the world have changed a lot in the last twenty years and it is important that the student code of conduct reflects that,” Matthews said in an email.
Clarifying definitions HATCHET FILE PHOTO
Christy Anthony, the director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, said student organizations must now consult with officials before ruling on conduct violation cases.
revised to be consistent with revisions to GW’s Equal Opportunity Policy. The updates also add members to the committee on the judicial system – a panel of faculty and students who hear students’ appeal cases for conduct violations – which will be renamed the “appeals court.” An alumna protested the ruling in her sexual violence case in spring 2017 after the accused student received a less severe sanction than what the student code of conduct recommended. In October, the code was updated to no longer include recommended sanctions. A former male student sued GW in March 2018 alleging he had been wrongfully accused of sexual assault and said in a reply brief later that year that officials misread evidence during
the conduct violation hearing, which should have warranted a second trial. The student code of conduct was updated to allow students to appeal sanctions on the basis of procedural errors and severity of a sanction, not just when new evidence surfaces.
Restorative justice
Anthony said complainants previously could only be involved in conduct violation case proceedings if the case included discriminatory harassment or unlawful discrimination. The code now allows complainants to be involved in all processes of conduct violation cases, like asking other witnesses to testify and offering testimony themselves. She said SRR officials made the change to emphasize reconciling conflict be-
IN BRIEF Trustees greenlight several changes to the faculty code The Board of Trustees approved several changes to the faculty code at a meeting Friday that altered promotion and tenure processes and institutionalized a review of the provost’s performance. Trustees unanimously approved several changes in the code, a document that specifies professors’ rights and responsibilities, on subjects like paid family leave and the confidentiality of the tenure and promotion process. Officials said the changes, passed by the Faculty Senate this academic year, are the result of a successful collaboration between faculty and trustees over the past couple of years to revamp the code. “I am happy to report that the board’s consultation with the faculty has been well-considered – it has truly been a collaborative effort and a strong display of our University’s commitment to shared governance,” said Madeleine Jacobs, the chair of the board’s Committee on Academic Affairs. The changes, which go into effect on July 1, come four years after trustees passed three major amendments to the code that triggered a negative reaction from faculty, who said they did not have a say in the changes. Provost Forrest Maltzman said one of the most significant changes the board voted on Friday was a resolution the Faculty Senate passed in February to enhance the confidentiality of job evaluations made during the tenure and promotion process. The policy will ensure recommendation letters and other materials involved in the decision-making process are kept confidential, he said. “It helps ensure that there is a rigorous, analytical review before professors get promoted to tenure,” he said. The board also approved a senate resolution – passed in April – that separated criteria for appointments, reappointments and promotions for non-tenure track specialized faculty members from those for regular faculty. Trustees also greenlighted two additional resolutions from the April senate meeting that transferred the authority to reappoint instructors past a fourth single-year term from the board to the provost and amended the grievance process for faculty who are denied tenure or promotion. The board backed a resolution suggested by the senate in January to conduct a regular review of the provost every three years – similar to how the University’s deans are evaluated. Maltzman said the review of the deans has been a “good best practice,” and the feedback provided by faculty members for the review will help provosts understand what to prioritize moving forward. Maltzman announced last month that he will step down as provost once officials select his successor. The board also amended the code to provide specialized faculty with the same parental leave rights as regular faculty, according to a University release Friday. “This year ’s work in revising the code, and on updating policies that affect the university community, exemplifies the best of shared governance,” said Sylvia Marotta-Walters, the chair of the Faculty Senate’s executive committee, in the release. —Jared Gans
tween students instead of only sanctioning students who violate the code. “That’s a direction that we have been moving in the last iteration of the code as well, and it’s really consistent with the principles of restorative justice, which look to repair the harm that occurs in a community, including the harm incurred to a person who violated policy,” she said. Anthony said student organizations must now consult with or obtain the approval of officials before ruling on conduct violation cases. “The idea here is to engage in more development of those processes for organizations that want to seek that, and for organizations that don’t, to give them a clear way to say to other students, ‘This is not ours to
Anthony said officials changed the definition of hazing because intent is “difficult” to demonstrate and students are unlikely to admit they intended to haze someone. She added that officials will factor in intent when determining the severity of sanctions for hazing violations, but intent will not indicate whether an act of hazing occurred. “I don’t think it’s helpful or appropriate for my team or our volunteers to be in the business of striving to interpret intent,” she said. “It’s more important to focus on what is behavior.” Anthony said the update permitting spontaneous student gatherings, like protests, expands the rights of students to assemble in unreserved spaces like Kogan Plaza, as long as the gatherings do not disrupt regular University activity or violate University policy. She said the update is designed
The six searches for deans, directors of several schools, explained JARED GANS
Status of dean, director searches
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Six searches for permanent leaders of GW’s schools or colleges are in different stages of the selection process. The deans of the College of Professional Studies, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the law school and the director of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design have stepped down from their posts or announced their intentions to resign in the last year and a half. Higher education experts said the high number of vacancies is “unusual” to occur simultaneously, but interim deans should be capable of handling the leaders’ responsibilities while searches continue.
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
Former CCAS Dean Ben Vinson stepped down last spring after accepting a position as provost and executive vice president of Case Western Reserve University. A month after Vinson announced he would leave GW, Paul Wahlbeck was appointed interim dean of CCAS and has since remained in the position. Officials launched a search for a permanent dean in November and organized a search committee, but the search was placed on hold last week pending the selection of a new provost who can be involved in the search. Provost Forrest Maltzman announced he would resign last month. Jean-Pierre Bardet, the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Miami, said the decision to delay the search until after a new provost is chosen is “logical” because the incoming provost can oversee the CCAS dean search process. “In order to create more team spirit, usually we appoint a captain and then we appoint team members,” he said.
May 2018
May 2019
SEAS dean announces he will leave in August 2018. An interim dean begins serving.
Officials suspend CCAS dean search.
February 2019
Law school dean announces he will resign at the end of the academic year.
January 2018 CPS/VSTC dean announces departure. An interim dean immediately takes over.
December 2018
SEAS dean search begins.
April 2019
Law school dean search begins.
March 2019
November 2018
Medical school dean search begins.
CCAS dean search begins.
January 2019
March 2018
CCAS dean says he will step down in June 2018, and an interim dean begins serving.
Medical school dean says he will resign when a successor is named.
May 2019
Interim law school dean begins serving.
April 2019
Corcoran director announces he will leave in July 2019.
GRAPHIC BY*searches OLIVIA for COLUMBUS | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CPS/VSTC dean and Corcoran directorDESIGN have not yet begun
School of Engineering and Applied Science
After serving in his position for 10 years, former SEAS Dean David Dolling announced in May 2018 that he would resign by the end of the summer. Rumana Riffat, a former associate dean of SEAS, has served as interim dean since August. Officials formed a search committee last December consisting of fourteen faculty members, administrators, trustees, students and alumni. The search has reached an “advanced stage” as of April, according to the search firm Isaacson, Miller, which the University hired to conduct the search. University spokeswoman Maralee Csellar said several candidates have visited GW and engaged with students, faculty and alumni. She said administrators hope to announce the new dean this summer. Bardet, the dean at the University of Miami, said the “advanced stage” of the search could signal that a few individuals in an applicant pool have been identified as the finalists and that the University is no longer looking for new applicants. “At that stage, they are also saying to the outside world, ‘We have enough that we are happy with what we’ve got,’” he said.
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
*interim director for Corcoran not selected yet
Jeffrey Akman, the dean of the medical school, announced in January that he will step down from his position once a successor is chosen and will return to his previous role as a faculty member. SMHS officials in March formed a search committee, chaired by Anton Sidaway, the chair of the surgery department and a professor of surgery, for the position.
GW Law School
In February, law school Dean Blake Morant announced his intention to step down at the end of the semester and take a sabbatical before returning to a faculty position. Earlier this month, officials named Christopher Bracey, the vice provost for faculty affairs and a professor of law, as the school’s interim dean. The search for the next permanent head began last month with the formation of a search committee chaired by Ralph Steinhardt, a professor of comparative law and jurisprudence.
College of Professional Studies
Ali Eskandarian, the former dean of CPS and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus, resigned from his position in January 2018. Christopher Deering, the former associate dean and associate provost of CPS and VSTC, has served as interim dean since Eskandarian left. Csellar said Deering will continue to oversee
CPS and VSTC for the “foreseeable future.” She declined to say if a dean search will start next academic year and why officials have not begun a search for a permanent dean. Kevin Dunn, the vice provost of Tufts University, said the search for the permanent dean and the formation of a search committee might be delayed because officials could be reevaluating the position’s responsibilities or deciding what type of background is desired for the next dean. “With colleges of professional studies, sometimes there is a decision about whether you want to hire someone who’s a more traditional academic or someone who has a lot of experience in the business of education,” he said. Higher education experts said in December that officials might be considering creating two separate positions to oversee CPS and VSTC. Csellar declined to say if the next dean will oversee both CPS and VSTC or only one.
Corcoran School of the Arts and Design
Corcoran Director Sanjit Sethi announced earlier this month that he will leave his position in July to serve as president of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Csellar said information about an interim dean will be “forthcoming” and declined to specify when a search for the next director will begin.
NEWS
May 20, 2019 • Page 4
THE GW HATCHET
GW joins nationwide cohort focused on improving first-generation experience
GABBY PINO
STAFF WRITER
Officials joined a group of schools dedicated to improving the experiences of first-generation students earlier this month. GW will participate in First Forward, a program that connects universities to discuss how to further the success of first-generation students, according to a May 7 tweet from the Center for Student Engagement. Officials said joining First Forward will allow GW staff to exchange information and resources with other institutions to improve the first-generation student experience. “It is our hope that participating in this program will enable us to build on the successes from the past couple of years and create new initiatives to serve and better the experience of our students in the future,” Colette Coleman, the interim associate dean of students, said in an email. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the Suder Foundation launched the cohort on May 1. The initiative allows student affairs staff nationwide to attend events like annual report discussions – which evaluate each school’s firstgeneration student support – and professional development conferences to exchange ideas about first-
FILE PHOTO BY DONNA ARMSTRONG | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Three staff members from the CSE will represent GW in the cohort.
generation student life. Coleman said three staff members from the CSE – Brittany Abraham, the program coordinator for special populations; Bridgette Behling, the director of community support and leadership; and Natalie Hershberger, the assistant director for experiential learning and leadership – will represent GW in the cohort. She said the University currently offers several programs for first-generation students, like monthly first-generation dinners and networking events. “We collaborate with a number of GW offices and
First-Gen United to provide one-on-one support, workshops and community building programs to connect students to resources and others who can relate to their experiences,” Coleman said in an email. Between 2014 and 2016, about 12 percent of students enrolled at GW identified as first-generation college students, according to a University release. The University dedicated a floor in Thurston Hall for firstgeneration freshmen this academic year, and a District House affinity suite will open for first-generation students next academic
year. The student organization First Gen United GW sponsored the inaugural first-generation week in November, and the University launched a peer mentorship program for firstgeneration students in 2013. Deana Waintraub Stafford, the assistant director for the Center for FirstGeneration Student Success at NASPA, said participants of the cohort must be a twoor four-year accredited U.S. college or university, hold a NASPA institutional membership and express interest and commitment to the cohort.
First Forward recognized 80 institutions in the cohort, according to the First Forward website. Five peer schools – Northeastern and Georgetown universities and the universities of Rochester, Miami and Tufts – joined the group, according to the First Forward website. Waintraub said the cohort allows colleges and universities to upgrade existing first-generation student programs and improve social and academic success among first-generation students. “Institutions will critically review existing offerings and navigate opportunities to enhance these efforts,” Waintraub said in an email. “Depending on the focal areas, each First Forward institution will uniquely support their firstgeneration student population.” Staff members from institutions in the cohort said they look forward to exchanging ideas, like mentorship programs and training for faculty and staff, with other schools to learn how to educate faculty on improving the first-generation student experience. Lisa Miles, the associate director of Common Ground, a diversity and inclusion initiative at the University of Richmond, said she joined the cohort to interact with staff members from other institutions
about financial aid packages and other resources for first-generation students. Miles said joining the cohort will help her to generate ideas for solutions to common problems firstgeneration students face, like coming from a low-income family or feeling isolated on campus, which is the current focus of her job. “For me, it’s a way to be a part of a first-generation community that I don’t really have on my campus and bring new ideas back that I would never have come up with, with the goal of trying to give my students much better services,” she said. Angie Lamb, the assistant director of academic support and retention at the University of Iowa, said joining First Forward allows her university to engage staff in discussions about how to make firstgeneration students feel accepted through conferences and training sessions with colleagues at other schools. “We can bring all kinds of awareness and celebrate the identity and all of those things, but if the instructors in the classrooms and the staff that interact with them are really not sure what first generation means and how to better support them, then all of our work is not as effective or impactful,” she said. –Paige Morse contributed reporting.
D.C. launches bystander awareness nightlife campaign LIA DEGROOT ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
District officials partnered with Uber, sexual assault prevention organizations and about 10 bars and clubs to launch a bystander awareness campaign to prevent sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police Department and the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture implemented the “The Stand Up, Don’t Stand By” campaign, in partnership with No More, Uber, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, and the Safe Bar Collective earlier this month. Participating bars and clubs placed posters at their establishments with messages like “check your ride” and “friends look out for each other” to encourage patrons to not be bystanders if someone is at risk of sexual assault, D.C. officials said. “Our hope is that all people, including students, read the posters and tips from this initiative, educate themselves, raise awareness among their friends and recognize and report any types of sexual assault,” MPD spokeswoman Kristen Metzger said in an email. D.C. is the third city to participate in the campaign, joining Las Vegas and Los Angeles, which both implemented the program last year. Metzger said sexual assault can happen anywhere, but intoxication increases the likelihood that an assault will occur. About 50 percent of student sexual assaults involve the consumption of alcohol, according to alcohol. org. She said MPD decided to participate in the campaign because “it brings awareness to sexual assault before it starts” and urges bystanders
to intervene when they see a situation where sexual assault might occur. Last year, students reported 38 incidents of rape and 13 incidents of fondling, doubling the number of reported sexual assaults on campus since 2015. Incidents of sexual abuse in the Second District decreased from 39 reports in 2017 to 38 reports in 2018. Shawn Townsend, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture, said his office joined Uber and No More, a sexual assault prevention advocacy group, to launch the campaign to encourage employees and customers at bars and clubs to be “proactive” in preventing sexual assault. “There has been an increase in harassment in the workplace overall, so I thought it was important to highlight it so that we can get folks, both employees and patrons, to start thinking about taking preventative action,” Townsend said. He said participating bars and clubs that are open to 18-year-olds should pay particular attention to implementing the prevention tips to ensure that staff and students who attend the club are knowledgeable about how to prevent sexual assault. Tracey Breeden, the head of women’s safety and gender-based violence at Uber, said Uber has worked with local government officials, sexual assault prevention advocacy groups and bars and clubs to implement bystander awareness messaging through posters reading “check your ride” and “friends look out for each other.” She said Uber is also working with local sexual assault prevention organi-
zations to create trainings for bar and club employees on how to handle situations where a sexual assault might occur. “It’s important for bystanders and friends to stick together and to take care of one another and really get that education out there that you should be sticking together and staying together and helping that person get all the way home,” Breeden said. She said students should ensure their Uber vehicle’s license plate and model matches the information from the Uber app and not the name given from their driver before getting into a car because the driver could be impersonating an Uber employee. The Uber app tips riders on their phone to check the license plate before their driver arrives. Breeden added that Uber provides its drivers with information on the Uber app about how to handle certain situations, like when a passenger is overly intoxicated or at risk of sexual assault. Glendon Hartley – a coowner of Service Bar, which is a participant in the campaign – said he decided to participate because he wants customers to feel comfortable at his bar. He said that although putting up posters with bystander tips does not guarantee sexual assault prevention, the messages can help deter potential sexual predators. “Having a spotlight shown on these types of interactions is only going to help our business and help people feel safe,” Hartley said. “And if people feel safe, they will remember where the place is that they felt safe and comfortable and they’ll come back.”
ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
D.C. officials partnered with Uber and other organizations to launch a bystander awareness campaign.
ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Geneva Henry, the dean of libraries and academic innovation, said the center will add new resources to address feedback collected from students and faculty over the year.
Officials to expand Academic Commons offerings next year MEREDITH ROATEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
After a year of answering student questions and providing tutoring, Academic Commons will increase its offerings to reflect student demand. Since officials created the hub last summer, more than 3,500 students have utilized tutoring services in different subjects, and more than 2,000 students asked staff located at a help desk in Gelman Library about 5,000 questions, officials said. Geneva Henry, the dean of libraries and academic innovation, said the center will expand its offerings next academic year to address feedback collected from students who used the center in its first year. “It’s gone beyond my dream of what we were going to do, and it’s worked for everybody – it’s worked for the students, it’s worked for the faculty,” she said. “So I think it’s been a big win.” Officials developed Academic Commons, located on Gelman’s entrance floor, after a push from Student Association leaders to create a centralized location for academic resources like skills workshops and study spaces. Henry said the center’s tutoring services – which are offered for several subjects and courses like math and statistics – are one of the most widely-used resources at the center. Academic Commons employed 90 undergraduate and graduate students as tutors this semester, she said. Henry added that, based on faculty feedback
about library tutoring services, staff will introduce a series of workshops next fall to help students develop their studying skills. The workshops will help students understand and remember difficult ideas in addition to the tutoring currently offered. “It’s sort of a chickenegg thing, right?” she said. “You’re not getting the concepts, but if you don’t know the best ways to study, then the concepts are going to be even harder.” Henry said library staff held nine feedback sessions throughout the academic year for students to assess the performance of Academic Commons. Staff also asked students to fill out evaluation forms and spoke with faculty to provide feedback to tutors, she said. Based on the feedback, she said the center will pilot a program this summer called GRE Together to support students studying for the Graduate Record Examination, a test for graduate school applicants. The project will consist of weekly review sessions and proctored practice exams for students and alumni who do not want to pay a third party for tutoring services, Henry said. “They don’t want to go and have to pay like a private tutor or one of these companies that does it,” she said. “So they’ve asked, ‘Is this not something we can do?’” Henry said the staff at the center also aim to provide students with access to cameras and other equipment to produce high-quality multimedia projects. She said students outside of the School of
Media and Public Affairs often struggle to acquire the tools needed to create videos for classes. Experts on academic resources said officials should continue to collect feedback to ensure Academic Commons is on the path to success. Sue Bierman, the director of the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center at Southern Methodist University, said the center could use focus groups to determine which resources have the highest demand and why other areas are not frequently utilized. “On both ends of the spectrum, you can utilize focus groups to answer the question ‘Why?’” she said in an email. “The most interesting group to me are the students who came to the center once but didn’t return – why not?” She added that using the feedback they have collected, officials can develop better marketing strategies that help students understand what resources the center can provide to them. Adam Sterritt, the assistant vice president for student life leadership at the University of Alabama, said academic resource hubs typically help drive improved graduation and retention statistics. Because these statistics do not improve quickly, Academic Commons staff should gather feedback through other means to improve their performance, Sterritt said. “You can look back at goals based on why students thought the space was necessary and at least evaluate whether or not you met some of those goals,” Sterritt said.
Opinions May 20, 2019 • Page 5
W
hen I first arrived at GW this fall, I was a proud Republican from Los Angeles who was eager to join GW College Republicans and GW’s chapter of the Young America’s Foundation. I thought those organizations would be my place, but they actually became the reason I abandoned my political party. In my high school, I did not know many Republicans or people with right-leaning ideologies. My views were seen as extremely conservative by my peers in my left-leaning hometown of LA, and I assumed it would be the same at a liberal institution like GW.
WHAT THE UNIVERSITY WON'T TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK When officials will launch a dean search for the College of Professional Studies. p. 3 FROM GWHATCHET.COM/OPINIONS
“Officials must include more students in the search committee to ensure the next provost will adequately represent both students and faculty” — EDITORIAL BOARD published May 13
How GW changed my political identity
Hannah Thacker Contributing Opinions Editor As the founding cochair of my high school’s chapter of YAF, I thought GW YAF would be the place for me. But when I interviewed for the GW YAF executive board this fall, I realized that I might need to rethink where I lie on the political spectrum. When I explained my disagreements with the organization’s stance on abortion during the interview, my view was shot down. Our differences forced me to realize that I might not be as conservative as I con-
sidered myself back home. I did not get a spot on the organization’s executive committee, but I attended a few GW YAF events after my interview. Slowly, I began to notice that I was getting into more disagreements with members than finding common ground on everything from President Don-
Cartoon by Jekko Syquia
ald Trump to tax policy. After many heated arguments, discussions and some frustrated tears, my freshman year has taught me that I’m not really the Republican that I thought I was. Back home, I was constantly under attack and yelled at for my opinions
because LA is so liberal. Constantly having to defend myself and argue for my views back home cemented the idea that I was a conservative Republican. Rather than choosing to be an independent, I thought I only had two choices: either be a Democrat or a Republican. My views did not align
It can be easy to say officials are inaccessible and do not adequately hear out student concerns. But in her first year, Dean of the Student Experience Cissy Petty has debunked the assumption – and students should pay attention. Petty filled the shoes of former Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski and has quickly become visible to students in more ways than one, responding to tweets and meeting with any students who want to speak with her. She is often seen chatting with students around campus, on elevators or in passing at the Marvin Center. At a large institution like GW, students may feel like their issues are not being addressed or listened to. Even when officials say they are taking steps to curb problems like food insecurity or a lacking leadership in the Colonial Health Center, students may not hear from administrators for months before an update is given. But students need to recognize that Petty’s track record in her first year has not left them in the dark, and they should know to utilize her during her second year. Petty has shown that she has heard out student concerns and is willing to help. Over the past academic year, she helped to establish District Connections, a program that provides freshmen with free tickets to events off campus. She also attempted to give Shenkman Hall an upgrade with new furniture on each floor after hearing from students that there is not enough community space in residence halls. Petty and other officials recently overhauled the resident adviser agreement, adding more RAs to
Hatchet
balance out the studentRA ratio. Each of Petty’s actions this academic year have shown that she understands student needs, even after just one year at the helm. Students concerned about issues under her jurisdiction should continue approaching her with concerns because she has proven that she is willing to listen. Petty oversees the Colonial Health Center, the Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities and the Center for Student Engagement, which cover some of the most salient issues students face on campus, like a lack of community and access to health services. If students have an issue in any of the three departments, they should know that Petty may have them covered. Her interactions contrast from Konwerski, her predecessor, who was more often found responding to students on Twitter than in person. Petty has spent her first year at the University reaching out to students both virtually and in person, and that is an uncommon quality among the University’s top leadership. Students often want to bring up personal issues to administrators, which can be done both in Petty’s office and through nonchalant conversations around campus. Petty has connected with students by talking with them in residence halls and in passing, but she also has structured meetings – formal and informal – where students can reach her. Petty does not just meet students in her office – she engages with them around campus in an environment where students are more comfortable. Students who ap-
proach Petty should have the expectation of being heard and should continue using her as a resource. Being able to speak to an administrator and walk away feeling informed leaves students feeling that their concerns matter. As Petty looks ahead to her second year, she should also shift her focus to not just listening to students but also working to fix some of the bigger problems at the University. While Petty spent time in residence halls this year to assess their quality, she only experienced living in Shenkman, Amsterdam and West halls. In the coming year, she should scope out some of the older residence halls that might have other structural issues. Petty is also currently the interim director of the CHC, and she should work to find the permanent director the center desperately needs. Food insecurity also continues to be a pressing issue on campus, and Petty should be transparent about her consideration of creating a dining hall. Petty’s first year was about establishing student relationships. In her second year, Petty should focus on both maintaining those relationships and frequently updating students about the steps she has taken to address different campus issues. In one year at the University, Petty has proven herself as an administrator who students can approach with issues. Students should know to come to Petty with any concern they might have, be it large or small. In addition, Petty should continue listening to students while informing them of the strides she has taken to tackle their concerns.
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to rethink my hard stance against government health care. I still question the effectiveness of government health care, but I acknowledged some of its benefits. If I expressed that same belief about universal health care back home, I was more likely to be yelled at for my opinion rather than listened to. GW’s campus is different from LA in that more people are willing to talk about their views and hear out others. Coming out of an environment that was homogeneous in political allegiance and into a place with more variety has given me more opportunity to explore my political views. Although there have been people who attacked me because of my opinions, it was those who questioned yet respected my beliefs that led me to change my mind and reconsider my political stances. I believe in the power of the individual and in small government, so in some respects, I am a traditional Republican. But after my time so far at GW, I would call myself more of an independent. California’s liberal environment made my values seem conservative, but compared to the rest of America they are really just moderate.. -Hannah Thacker is a freshman majoring in political communication.
Men’s basketball has a chance to make themselves a winning team
STAFF EDITORIAL
Petty proved she is accessible, and students should take advantage
with the Democratic party, so I chose to be a Republican. But when the midterm elections rolled around a couple of months into my freshman year, I noticed that I did not fit with Democrats or Republicans. I thought the College Republicans’ watch party would be the place for me, but I found myself arguing with members about candidates and issues like party allegiance and the stock market. I was confused about where I belonged on the political spectrum – I anticipated needing to defend my beliefs to Democrats, not Republicans. While I believe in the traditional foundations of Republican ideology, like the power of the individual and a small limited government, I found that many of my views about topics like health care and military spending were too liberal for Republicans and too conservative for Democrats at GW. At home, those views were almost always seen as too conservative. My peers have also helped me solidify my political views. At the beginning of the academic year, I believed that the government should not be involved in health care. But after a conversation with a close friend about the potential benefits of the system, I was forced
M
en’s basketball games were greeted with rows of empty seats and a losing streak that ended its Atlantic 10 Conference run early last season. Since Maurice Joseph was fired in March after two seasons with the squad, incoming head coach Jamion Christian and his new lineup have an opportunity to reinvigorate the program into a winning squad that evokes school pride from students.
Hannah Thacker Contributing Opinions Editor The program has had a rocky past with coaching turnover and scandals. In 2016, former head coach Mike Lonergan, who led the team for five seasons before Joseph was hired, was dismissed amid allegations of verbal and emotional abuse against players. Joseph was hired in 2017 with the goal of rebuilding trust in the program, but a pileup of losses led to his departure. After Christian’s arrival to men’s basketball, three new coaching staff have arrived and the team picked up six recruits. Following a shaky season, a new roster and coaching staff is a fresh start for the program. Now that the team has a full lineup for the upcoming season, the Colonials have everything they need to convince the GW community that men’s basketball can be a winning team. Christian last coached Siena, leading the team to more wins than GW has seen since Joseph was named head coach. He stopped coaching Siena at the close of last season with a 17-16 record, compared to GW’s 9-24 record. This year, GW made it to the second round of the Atlantic 10 Conference while Siena progressed to the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. Before Siena, Christian coached Mount Saint Mary’s basketball and turned the squad’s 8-12 losing record in the 2011-12 season into an 18-14 record the next year. Christian has proved that he is no stranger to turning a losing team into a winning one. If he leads the team the same way he coached Siena and Mount Saint Mary, there could be wins ahead for GW. The team’s six new recruits have all connected with Christian throughout their careers, which
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could help them find chemistry on the court. GW picked up two forwards and four guards, two of whom transferred out of Mount Saint Mary’s and Nebraska. Their experience playing at the collegiate level – and on teams with a winning track record – before GW will also make them quick assets to the program. Christian should take this opportunity to mold and shift the team focus toward winning. New blood on the team could reignite the interest of fans if Christian’s coaching style can produce wins. In addition to the recruits, Christian brings a “mayhem” coaching style that focuses on high-intensity defense and three-point shooting. This style is different from Joseph, who used a traditional man-to-man and zone defense. Setting GW’s team apart from the field could shake up the Colonials’ previous style of play. If Christian plays his cards right, he could set the team back on track. The University is not known fwor its athletics, and school spirit is often difficult to find, even in the Smith Center. GW is more known for activities like internships rather than its basketball teams. But school spirit can build community on campus, and athletics are an effective way of bringing students together in one place for a common goal. Since the team lost 24 games last season and 18 the year before, it is no shocker that turnout at home games has been low. If he can muster the team past A-10 rivals and progress past the second round of the A-10 Conference, the program could see more students showing up and cheering them on. College sports teams benefit the University in more ways than one. Successful programs can help people feel connected to the University, including students, alumni and families who attend the games. Students would also have a uniform sport to rally around, as opposed to the typical GW student who may find their community in one of hundreds of student organizations. Restoring student support for the men’s basketball team is dependent on the team increasing its overall season wins. Given the new leadership within the team and its newest members, Christian should seize the opportunity to rebuild a broken team, and in doing so, he will boost student support.. -Hannah Thacker is a freshman majoring in political communication.
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Culture
May 20, 2019 • Page 6
THE
SCENE
LIZZO
9:30 Club May 20 • $245 Rapper and singer Lizzo performs “Juice” and other hits from her new album “Cuz I Love You.”
RELEASED
THIS WEEK:
THE 1975
The Anthem May 21 • $200 British pop rock band The 1975 takes the stage with tunes from its new album.
ALY & AJ
The Filmore Silver Spring May 22 • $25 Former Disney stars Aly & AJ play hits from their new pop album “Sanctuary” Wednesday.
‘IGOR,’ AN ALBUM BY TYLER THE CREATOR
Activities around the District to keep you busy all summer long MOLLY KAISER
CONTRIBUTING CULTURE EDITOR
Whether you’re staying in D.C. for the summer to lock in some class credits or to intern, you can spend your free time exploring new hobbies with these classes around the District. From drawing to boxing, the District has plenty to make your summer exciting.
Meditation
Meditation is a natural remedy for ailments like depression and anxiety. If you’re looking to become more mindful, try a guided meditation class at Take Five Meditation on Connecticut Avenue. Classes are open to both beginners and advanced meditators, and the studio features a tea lounge for relaxation and reflection. You can sign up for a discounted $15 class if you’re a first-time customer. If you want to come back for more after your first class, opt for the five-class pack ($90) or the 10-class pack ($150). Take Five Meditation, 1803 Connecticut Ave. NW, second floor.
Art classes
For those hankering to explore their artistic side, head to the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. If you’re looking to build up your drawing skills, sign up for the “Outdoor Drawing: Nature, Architecture and More” class ($160) held every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for three weeks. For those interested in photography, the workshop
offers a street photography class, which is also held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for the same price. For the fashionista, try the “Beyond Fashion: Sewing and More” course ($330), which includes both history lessons on sewing and instructions on how to sew. The class is held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday from June 15 to July 20. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE.
Rock climbing
Hop on the Blue Line to the Earth Treks gym for an indoor rock climbing park. Take your workout to new heights by climbing one of its 400+ roped routes at the Crystal City location. If you’re a starter, try the “Intro to Climbing Class” ($30), which teaches beginners how to climb independently. Once you get some experience, you can purchase a one-month membership ($120) with unlimited climbing and discounted classes, or a seven-visit pass ($150). When you arrive, you can rent gear from Earth Treks, including climbing shoes, a harness, a belay device and a chalk bag, for $11. Earth Treks, 1235 S Clark St., Arlington, Va.
Boxing
Boxing can be a great reliever for pent-up stress. The Rumble boxing studio in the West End offers 45-minute classes with 10 rounds of combined boxing and weight-training exercises. The workout, which has been
ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Head to the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for classes on outdoor drawing or street photography.
acclaimed by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and David Beckham, is open to beginners. Each class begins with a five-minute “pre-class” that introduces different punches and techniques to use during the workout. You can purchase your first class for $34, which includes a free second class. After that, try a five-class pack for $165 or a 10-class pack for $320.
Rumble D.C., 2001 M St. NW, Suite 120.
Yoga
Try one of Yoga District’s several locations around D.C. Yoga District offers classes with varying difficulty, starting with Level 1 for beginners and up to Level 3 for advanced students. The studios provide several different yoga types, including flow, core-
focused, gentle and meditative yoga. An individual class costs $11.50, and mat rental costs $2. If you like your first class, the studio offers an unlimited one-month pass for first-time students for $35. If you’re tight on cash, Yoga District also has a program where customers can volunteer at the studio three to four hours a week in exchange for free yoga. Locations vary.
Corcoran to document controversial exhibit closure
CONNOR WITSCHONKE | STAFF PHTOGRAPHER
Documentation of a controversial exhibit canceled at the Corcoran in 1989 will open in June.
SIDNEY LEE
CULTURE EDITOR
The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design will shed light on the highly publicized cancellation of an exhibit from 30 years ago. The exhibit, “6.13.89: The Canceling of the Mapplethorpe Exhi-
bition,” will be showcased in the Flagg Building from June to October. The display will examine Corcoran’s decision to close photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s exhibit, “The Perfect Moment,” in 1989 amid concerns that the display was inappropriate for visitors.
Mapplethorpe’s original work contained more than 150 photos of sexual acts and violence. The photographer was known for his provocative work and tendency to test social boundaries, like samesex eroticism. Sanjit Sethi, the director of the Corcoran and associate professor
of ceramics, organized the exhibit with Gelman Library, where staff will sift through the archives and pull out newspaper clippings to display from the exhibit’s cancellation. The documents include “mundane” planning documents, angry call logs and press clippings about the cancellation, Sethi said. “These documents provide a remarkable window into the interstitial world regarding this controversy,” he said in an email. At the time, “The Perfect Moment” was partially financed by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a government agency that was under fire from Congress for its grant policies. The school canceled the exhibit on June 13, 1989 – four months after Mapplethorpe died of complications from AIDS – to avoid triggering a political storm. Its cancellation sparked a discussion about artistic freedom and censorship. Sethi said the Corcoran suffered a “significant fracture” to its “philosophical foundation” after the cancellation. The Corcoran did not become part of the University until 2014, when it was merged with the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. “At that point in time, the Corcoran Gallery came into conflict with the Corcoran College’s values,” Sethi said. “In order for the Corcoran to proceed as an educational institution dedicated to educating the next generation of
cultural leaders, it has to exorcise one of the most significant ghosts of its past – namely the cancellation of this exhibition.” The exhibit will feature archives seldom seen by the public because the Corcoran archives were closed off to the public until 2007, Sethi said. He said the documents on display are being selected by two graduating master’s of art history students, Madeline Henkin and Arthur Foster. “What makes this exhibition remarkable is the series of collaborations that it involves,” he said. “This exhibition has been developed and produced in collaboration with students, faculty, alumni and community members to more clearly illuminate and reflect on this important moment.” No original prints of Mapplethorpe’s work will be on display, Sethi said. But an invitation to the original exhibit that features the image, “Embrace” – a black male and a white male shown embracing wearing jeans and no shirts – will be shown. Sethi said an image of Mapplethorpe that was projected onto the exterior of the Flagg Building in 1989 in protest of the cancellation of the exhibit will also be on display. “6.13.89” will be accompanied by a symposium on art and censorship in the United States and internationally to highlight the effects of its cancellation on the Corcoran and federal funding of the arts.
18-year-old graduates with master’s in political management PHUONG NGUYEN REPORTER
By the time Adam Brown turned 8 years old, he had already enrolled in a college-level class. The third-grade coursework his peers studied at the time was already years behind Brown, and he was thirsting for a more rigorous course load. So during his free time, Brown decided to enroll in classes at Los Angeles Mission College after elementary school and during summers. Brown took another leap 10 years later – and graduated from GW with a master’s degree on the National Mall. The 18-year-old, who earned a master’s in political management, is one of the youngest students to graduate from the University this academic year. Brown said that despite taking high-level classes before most of the peers his age, he enjoyed the academic challenge and wants to return to school again
for a law degree. “I wanted to get the extra challenge, but I liked what I was doing,” Brown said. “I loved hanging out with people my own age, so my parents suggested looking into other options.” At 8 years old, Brown said he began taking classes at Mission College and continued to enroll in courses there for the following five years. He later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in history at the age of 16. Although his high school experience was different than most, Brown participated in baseball, marching band, jazz band, Model United Nations and mock trials while working on his degree at UCLA. “It is definitely a different high school experience, but I was still able to go to prom and attend football games on Friday nights,” Brown said. In his time at GW, Brown was a member of
the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and GW’s United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund organization. Brown said the University was “incredibly supportive” and he felt “completely welcome” as a relatively young student pursuing a master’s degree. “I’ll miss exploring D.C. with my friends and going on midnight monument walks,” Brown said. “I love GW, and I’m very proud to be at GW. Looking back on my two years, I definitely chose the right school.” Brown said he hopes to return to GW for law school, where he can continue his passion for education advocacy. He said he wants to use his degree to improve access to education for others who are not as fortunate. His sister, who has cerebral palsy, motivated him to study accessible education and youth development, which he hopes to use to motivate others in a career post-gradation.
SARAH URTZ | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Adam Brown, an 18-year-old who graduated with a master’s in political management, said he wants to use his experience to inspire others to pursue their education.
“After seeing what she has had to go through in her fight for a quality education, I knew that I needed to advocate for her and
other students,” Brown said. “I believe that every student has a right to a quality education. I plan to continue working toward
more accessible as well as innovative quality education and youth development as a career after law school.”
Sports
May 20, 2019 • Page 7
GAMES OF THE WEEK
SAILING
NUMBER CRUNCH
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
at ICSA Women’s Nationals Tuesday - Friday The Colonials head to Newport, R.I. to compete in their fifth consecutive Women’s National Championship.
3.6
at NCAA East Regional 8:20 p.m. | Friday GW sends junior steeplechase racer Suzanne Danheim to the NCAA Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla.
Average number of runs softball scored in non-regular season games, down from its regular season average of 6.4 runs per game.
2018-19 YEAR IN REVIEW: Teams clinch titles, some falter in A-10 play
EMILY MAISE
SPORTS EDITOR Looking back at the 201819 season, 10 of 14 programs with win-loss records underperformed compared to last season’s marks. Two of eight women’s teams saw improved overall records, two squads maintained the same number of wins and five teams saw improved conference records. Of the six teams on the men’s side, two teams saw improved overall records and two teams upped their conference records. Here’s a review of the 2018-19 season and a look into what next season has to offer:
Disappointment lingers
Four programs fell short of expectations set by its performance during the 2017-18 season. Women’s basketball missed gaining its fourth Atlantic 10 Championship in five years. Despite being picked in preseason polls to take third in the conference, the Colonials exited the A-10 tournament early as the No. 9 seed – the team’s lowest ranking in seven years. The squad combined 10 wins on the season, the lowest since the 2010-11 season when the team won eight games. Men’s soccer did not qualify for the A-10 tournament this year after making it to the quarterfinals during the 2017-18 season. The squad put up a 1–5–2 conference record with three games going into overtime and scored more than two goals in only one game. The team paced its worst record
HATCHET FILE PHOTO Softball became A-10 co-champions with Fordham after rain led to the cancellation of the deciding game.
since 2010, when the squad went 4–15–1. Volleyball made it to the semifinals of the A-10 Championship in 2017 but failed to qualify for the tournament in 2018. The squad opened A-10 play with a 3–0 win over Saint Louis but dropped the next two 3–1 before beating Rhode Island 3–0 and evening its conference record to 2–2. The team went on an eight-game skid, losing nearly every game in October and finding itself unable to fully bounce back. Baseball whipped up another 30-win season under head coach Gregg Ritchie, but the team laid just outside the A-10 tournament bubble at No. 9. Inconsistent and injured pitching plagued the team all year, but the return
of junior right-handed pitcher Elliott Raimo gave the team options heading into the final stretch of the season. The team ranked top five in the A-10 in on-base percentage, runs batted in, batting average, slugging percentage and hits, but it struggled against conference foes and went 11-13 on the year.
Programs repeat championships
Men’s squash, men’s swimming and diving and men’s water polo repeated their championship feats, and softball joined the mix this season for the first time in program history. Men’s squash captured its second consecutive Hoehn Cup. After a season of constant ladder changes,
the team shifted its goals from moving into the A Division, which houses the top eight teams, and focused on reclaiming the B Division. The team avenged an earlyseason loss to Western Ontario in the tournament and cruised past St. Lawrence and Drexel to capture the B Division crown again. In head coach Brian Thomas’ first year, men’s swimming and diving nabbed its third consecutive A-10 Championship. The Colonials cleaned up the competition, winning nine medals, sweeping the 1,650-yard freestyle and 100yard freestyle podiums and taking gold in the 400-yard freestyle. Junior Moritz Fath won six gold medals and was named the Most Out-
standing Performer while sophomore Peter Nachtwey received a gold and a silver medal before being named the Most Outstanding Diver of the championship. Men’s water polo won its second consecutive Mid Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship this year in a 12–11 overtime match against No. 15 Bucknell. The squad downed Princeton 14–13 in another overtime matchup to bag its first NCAA win in program history. After the win and a loss to No. 2 UCLA, the team advanced to 23–7 and became the winningest team in GW history, breaking the 23–10 record held since 1997. Softball became A-10 cochampions with Fordham after inclement weather led to the cancellation of the deciding game, qualifying the team for its first postseason showing at the National Invitational Softball Championship Liberty Regional. The Colonials’ powerhouse offense propelled them to a program-best 44 wins. The squad, led by junior utility player and A-10 Softball Player of the Year Jenna Cone, junior utility player Jessica Linquist and sophomore utility player Sierra Lange, led the A-10 in runs batted in (67), home runs (20), batting average (.411), stolen bases (25), wins by a pitcher (31) and strikeouts by a pitcher (245).
Returning cores anchor programs
Three teams retain a strong core of returning players who will gain experience for the season ahead.
Lacrosse returns every player but will enter the 2020 season with a new head coach. Former head coach Tracy Coyne resigned after the program raked in the most conference wins in four years but was unable to prevent a three-game skid that kept it from the playoffs. Junior midfielder Katie Quinn and freshman midfielder Tori Hampton led the team with 30 goals apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Oler, who started 16 games for the Colonials between the pipes, ranked second in the A-10 with 174 saves. Women’s water polo ended the season on a fourgame losing streak and went 1-5 in conference play this season. But the team returns every player, including high-scoring duo sophomore utility player Alana Ponce and freshman utility player Juliette Belanger. The pair scored 88 of the team’s 174 goals this season and shot 7.7 and 8.5 percent more than the team average, respectively. Men’s basketball returns seven of its 10 players from the 2018-19 season and will gain junior forward Arnaldo Toro back from injury. Toro started all seven games he played in before his injury and averaged 10.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. The Colonials will lose sophomore guard Terry Nolan Jr., freshman guard Shandon Brown and freshman forward Marcus Littles, who all transferred out of the program after former head coach Maurice Joseph was fired. The trio tallied 16.4 percent of the team’s total rebounds and 17.4 percent of its total points.
Standout student-athletes bid farewell, open up key slots to fill EMILY MAISE
SPORTS EDITOR A slew of graduating Colonials exchanged their buff and blue uniforms for a cap and gown this weekend. Here is a recap of standout senior and graduate studentathletes who have left lasting marks and holes to fill in their respective programs.
Mei-Lyn Bautista: Women’s basketball
Bautista racked up minutes for the Colonials as a point guard, tallying more than 1,000 minutes in her final two seasons for a total of 3,310 career minutes. She led the team in assists in her final three seasons, dishing out about 400 dimes and ranking eighth in career assists for GW. Her 2.82 assist-toturnover ratio ranked within the top-20 nationally during her junior year. She steadily increased her point production, averaging 3.2 points per game her freshman year and reaching 9.3 points per game her senior season. Bautista landed seventh in career three-point field goals made with 157 buckets from behind the arc.
Moudy Abdel-Maksoud: Men’s squash
Abdel-Maksoud’s 54 wins rank him third in all-time men’s career singles victories. He was named to the College Squash Association All-American Second Team for the past two seasons. He sat at No. 1 on the ladder for nearly his entire collegiate campaign and was instrumental to the program’s first and second Hoehn Cup victories, winning three of his six matches. On a No. 9 nationally ranked team, he ended his senior season ranked No. 11 in the nation individually.
Riley Legault: Sailing
Legault inked herself in program history by qualifying for the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Singlehanded National Championships every year she’s been at GW. After fourth-, fifthand third-place finishes at the Middle Atlantic Inter-
collegiate Sailing Association Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, Legault brought home first in 2018. Legault also played a role in the women’s team qualifying for its fifth ICSA National Championship.
Logan Lowe: Golf
As the sole recruit of his class, Lowe topped off a historic career at GW with an Atlantic 10 Championship victory. With six tournament wins under his belt, Lowe became the seventh Colonial to win multiple tournaments. Lowe’s 72.22 scoring average marks the lowest career scoring average in program history. He is the first golfer to make the A-10 All-Conference Team all four years. He was also named the A-10 Golfer of the Year in 2018, the first golfer to receive the honor in GW history.
Thor Arne Höfs: Men’s soccer
Höfs started 59 games for the Colonials and tallied 264 saves during his career, positioning him fourth in program save history. He broke the single-season career shutout record in 2016 with nine shutouts and topped the career shutout record in 2018 with 22 shutouts. He boasts a .780 career save percentage throughout 5,371 minutes between the pipes. Höfs was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week four times, the most of any Colonial.
Alex Zois: Gymnastics
A series of knee injuries sidetracked fifth-year Zois, but she bounced back to be named to the East Atlantic Gymnastics League AllTournament First Team in vault, bars, beam, floor and all-around, a 2019 EAGL AllAround Champion and the 2019 EAGL Gymnast of the Year in her final year. She also qualified for the Baton Rouge Regional this year. Zois is in a tie for the fourthbest program uneven bars score with 9.90 and was an EAGL uneven bars co-champion in 2016.
Senior utility player Dom D’Alessandro swings at a pitch.
HATCHET FILE PHOTO
Dynamic duo headlines baseball’s offense BELLE LONG
CONTRIBUTING SPORTS EDITOR Baseball’s power hitting duo of senior utility player Dom D’Alessandro and junior shortstop Nate Fassnacht has served as the heart of GW’s offense this season. D’Alessandro and Fassnacht rank near the top of the Colonials’ (30–24 11–13 A-10) leaderboard in batting average, hits, runs, walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Their offensive prowess helped elevate the team to 30 wins this season. “Sometimes people find themselves only caring about how they do but for me, I’ve learned this last year to do what the team needs and then everything will fall into place,” D’Alessandro said. The duo has also achieved individual successes, charging straight into the Atlantic 10 top-five in onbase percentage, batting average, home runs, runs batted in, runs and slugging percentage. D’Alessandro’s .423 batting average leads the conference and ranks fifth among all NCAA baseball players. He also hit a conferenceleading 13 bombs this year. Fassnacht is tied for first in RBI and has circled the bases a conference-high 59 times, tying freshman outfielder Cade Fergus. D’Alessandro said a factor in his success this season has been improved discipline at the plate, which has allowed him to walk 13 more
times and strike out six fewer times than he did last season. “I’ve really worked on getting my pitch and not swinging on any bad pitches,” D’Alessandro said. As upperclassmen, Fassnacht and D’Alessandro provided experience and leadership on a team with nine freshmen. D’Alessandro said he and Fassnacht assumed the responsibility of being role models to the younger players. “Nate is not the most vocal leader, he’s more of a lead-by-example kind of kid,” D’Alessandro said. “He has taken on that role of leading by example and a lot of the younger guys look up to him.” Both players turned in career performances, demonstrating growth in power and pitch selection. Both D’Alessandro’s and Fassnacht’s batting averages are nearly a .1 jump from last season. D’Alessandro’s .318 batting average spiked to .423, and Fassnacht’s batting average jumped from .277 to .372. Fassnacht said he has begun to hold off on hitting fastball pitches, which has helped him improve his batting average. “I changed my thought process when I’m at the plate and let myself be more aggressive,” Fassnacht said. Fassnacht said he and D’Alessandro have been pushing each other forward throughout the season, both benefiting from the healthy competition between teammates.
“We egg each other on,” Fassnacht said. “There’s definitely an internal competition.” The duo made a one-two punch in the lineup as Fassnacht and D’Alessandro were typically slotted third and fourth, respectively. The two players combined for 172 of the Colonials’ 565 hits this season and about a third of the squad’s RBI. On the team’s senior day, Fassnacht was honored as the most valuable player of the season. Head coach Gregg Ritchie said that it was nearly impossible to choose between the two players. “I was pulling hair out over MVP, it was very difficult,” Ritchie said. “Dom and him were neck and neck. If there was a time to give out co-MVPs, that would have been it.” Despite winning 30 games for the third consecutive year and leading in offensive categories, the Colonials did not make the A-10 tournament. The squad ended the year ranked No. 9 in the conference, just outside the top-eight bubble. The team’s 11-13 A-10 record was the first losing conference record since 2014. The Colonials’ conference play has been “frustrating,” D’Alessandro said, because his team is better than its position in the standings. “We have a lot of young guys who just don’t have too much experience, so I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I definitely think we were better than what we played to in the rankings,” he said.
May 20, 2019 • Page 8
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