George Washington University - ��Ӱ��

Young voters turnout near George Washington University, West End

Hannah Campbell — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 19:57:37 +0000

Of the roughly 160 million people who will vote in the 2024 presidential election, about 8 million will be first-time voters.��

Dozens of voters wrapped around the West End Neighborhood Library earlier this afternoon, many of whom were young voters casting their ballots for the first time ever in the 2024 presidential election.��

��t’s a little nerve-wracking,” Nicholas Fabian, an undergraduate student at George Washington University, said. “There’s no pressure to vote, but it’s a meaningful experience.”

According to the , roughly 160 million people will vote in the 2024 presidential election. ��Ӱ�� 8 million of those voters will be first-time voters.��

The West End Neighborhood Library was the closest polling location for George Washington University students who opted to vote in person. (Hannah Campbell / ��Ӱ��)

Originally from Connecticut, Fabian voted for the first time at the neighborhood library. He said he registered to vote in D.C. because it is a “simpler” process than voting by absentee ballot.��

“Something about being in-person to vote, instead of mailing in your ballot…there’s something very patriotic about it,” Fabian said.��

Sophia Pan, another undergraduate student at G.W., also voted in her first election. She said the voting process is a little worrisome because she is fully “immersed” now.��

��t gets more real,” she said. ��t’s a lot more important when you’re actually voting, instead of just watching it happen around you.”

Both students cast their vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, stating they agree with her policies more than former President Donald Trump.

Fabian described Trump as a “complete threat to our democracy,” and Harris would be better for the position after the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.��

�� just think Kamala Harris’s policies will benefit the middle class much better and more effectively than Donald Trump’s policies,” he said.��

As for Pan, she said Harris’s positions on significant issues such as abortion and environmental issues make her more qualified for the position.��

Many of the students from George Washington University and nearby areas were first-time voters in the 2024 election. (Hannah Campbell / ��Ӱ��)

Olivia Morris, a graduate student at G.W., said she came out to vote because she is passionate about politics. Identifying as a “pretty dedicated conservative,” she felt it was her “civic duty and honor” to be able to vote.

�� love my country, and I love thinking about these deeper questions,” she said. “There’s a lot of moral weight to a lot of things surrounding this election.”

She said she voted for Trump because of his international policies, such as imposing tariffs on other countries “to support growth with the United States.” This is her third time voting for the former president, and she “supports everything he stands for.”

While many individuals have clear stances on who they support, some potential voters have previously voiced their concerns for both candidates.they will not vote for Harris unless the Democratic nominee commits to stop sending weapons to Israel.��

Avery Archer, a West End resident, felt conflicted on the issue because of his pro-Palestinian beliefs toward the Israel-Hamas war. Nevertheless, he decided to vote for Harris because she seemed more “persuasive” in taking a stance on the conflict.��

“Even though she isn’t where I want to be on [the war,] I think she’s more receptive to pressure,” Archer said.��

Fabian said it is important for other undecided voters to still vote in this “historic election.”

“Even if neither of the candidates really represent your beliefs, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it,” he said.

The post Young voters turnout near George Washington University, West End first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

West End housing project still faces facility issues, pending litigation ahead of hypothermia season

Hannah Campbell — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:52:19 +0000

The West End housing project to convert the Aston into a housing shelter has been further delayed due to repair needs and pending litigation from West End residents.

The beginning of November officially marks hypothermia season, meaning more people will look for city resources to stay out of the cold. With more homeless people across the DMV than the previous year, city officials were gearing to the Aston shelter in West End earlier this month – until problems struck.��

With failed inspections and residents complaints getting in the way, it is still unknown as to when the shelter will be ready to open its doors.��

The West End housing project to convert the Aston into a housing shelter has been further delayed due to repair needs and pending litigation from West End residents.��

A recent facility condition assessment performed by the D.C. The Department of General Services revealed the building failed its final housing code inspection. Officials concluded the building still lacks sufficient fire exits and other repairs throughout the building.��

As a 2023 building condition assessment performed by the same agency revealed substantial is needed for the building to remain up to code. The building is also estimated to cost the city about $8 million in repairs over the coming years.

As plans for the remodel of the former George Washington University dorm are continuously met with backlash, residents grow concerned for safety concerns regarding building conditions and surrounding issues.��

Following the news of the assessment, the West End DC Community Association (WEDCCA) filed another lawsuit against the city’s Board of Zoning office. The group calls for the Aston permit to be revoked and that it was issued on “incomplete, stale, and inaccurate information,” regarding the building’s safety standards.��

As previously reported by ��Ӱ��, the building is estimated to cost the city about $8 million in repairs over the coming years (Photo by Hannah Campbell).

“You’re putting lives at risk when you can’t pass a fire code inspection,” attorney Scott Morrison, on behalf of WEDCCA, said. “You’re talking about whether the building itself meets the very minimal building code standards for life safety.”

This is the third lawsuit the group has filed to halt construction of the project, as the filing claims the temporary shelter with medical support services would violate the area’s zoning regulations. The group claims the area only permits residential buildings, and the Aston’s special exception permit was “fundamentally defective.”

“The district’s conduct has been deplorable,” Morrison said. “They’re trying to downplay everything.”

The community group previously filed lawsuits last year regarding the approval process the city used, but voluntarily withdrew their first lawsuits, as .��

A spokesperson for the Department of Building did not respond to requests for comment. The office of Mayor Muriel Bowser has declined to comment on pending litigation and maintenance issues surrounding the Aston.��

While the building was slated to open in early October, the Aston is expected “to begin serving clients in the upcoming hypothermia season.” The season begins on November 1.��

Jim Malec, the ANC 2A Chairperson, said he expected the needed repairs on the building are expected to take “weeks, not months.”

�� wish we would have been able to address this sooner, but this is a process,” Malec said. “…We conducted ourselves in accordance with the timeline set forth by the law.”

Malec also expressed frustration that the members of WEDCCA have continued to remain anonymous under the litigation proceedings. He said the group that opposes the construction should “take a long look in the mirror and think about their priorities.”

In a declaration to the court, the association’s members include residents from the 22 West Condo association, as well as other neighborhood residents and “multiple businesses that own or occupy properties in the immediate vicinity of, including properties on the same block as, the Aston.”

The shelter, located at 1133 New Hampshire Avenue NW, is near businesses such as Casta’s Rum Bar, Rasika West End and a Call Your Mother deli location.��

The next Board of Zoning meeting is set for Wednesday, November 6, where it will be determined as to whether the Aston deserved a special permit for opening (Photo by Hannah Campbell).

��Ӱ�� reached out to the Department of Human Services to get the latest update on the delays. Kevin Carpenter, director of communications for the department, said in an emailed statement the city “has continually engaged with neighbors, nearby businesses, and community representatives throughout the development process.”

The next Board of Zoning meeting is set for Wednesday, November 6, where it will be determined as to whether the Aston deserved a special permit for opening.��

As the fight to open its door to tenants continues, Morrison said WEDCCA will continue to fight against the city’s lack of transparency to residents on the “dangers” of the Aston.��

“The district has manipulated the system to its advantage to try to get the Aston open for a homeless shelter, and [the district is] doing everything they can to keep this quiet,” Morrison said.

The post West End housing project still faces facility issues, pending litigation ahead of hypothermia season first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

George Washington University resident doctors picket for pay, benefits

Hannah Campbell — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 17:26:36 +0000

University and resident doctors at standstill in union demands, with further negotiations scheduled in two weeks.��

George Washington University resident doctors Maryssa Miller and Jason Robart, among others, led efforts to form a union among other students. With almost 90% of the residents signed on, they are still negotiating with the university for a fair contract one year later.��

“We want the university to know that we are taking this seriously,” Robart, an anesthesiologist resident physician, said. “We are united as a group, and we can mobilize as a group.”

Over 200 unionized resident doctors at George Washington University gathered last week to picket for new contract negotiations, including pay and other benefits.��

Residents claim they work up to 80-hour weeks during the academic year and earn as little as $15 an hour. The union is asking for higher wages and better mental healthcare benefits, among other non-economic things such as lactation accommodations.��

Hospital residents also claim 51-52% of their take-home pay goes to rent on average, and the university has not helped with increasing costs.��

Hospital residents claim 51-52% of their take-home pay goes to rent on average and work under extreme conditions.

After completing his master’s degree and medical residency at the University of Virginia, Robart began his studies at GW in 2022.

He, along with other residents, decided to form a union because of the extreme working conditions of the program. Residents also argue the impact of their health and well-being could potentially affect patient care.��

“We are not asking for the world,” Robart said. “We just want a little bit more to help us take care of ourselves so we can better take care of our patients.”

Nearly 500 medical residents are employed by George Washington University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences and work in the Foggy Bottom area hospital. The union first set out to organize in March 2023 with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), an organization part of the D.C.-based Service Employees International Union (SEIU).��

The union and the university started contract negotiations last fall.

The union voted to officially form in March 2023 and worked with CIR to start contract negotiations.��

“Each time we proposed something, [the university] would propose something back that we thought was woefully inadequate,” Robart said.��

Union members said the contract negotiations have been taking longer than expected because the university’s bargaining team has not been acting “in good faith.” Residents claim university decision makers do not attend negotiation meetings, only sending their appointed lawyer.��

�� feel so morally defeated because I just had to listen to someone who’s never taken care of a patient in their life and never gone through what we go through on a daily basis, tell me why I don’t deserve a higher salary to be able to afford groceries,” Dr. Maryssa Miller, an internal medicine resident physician, said.��

Miller, a first-generation college student, also began her residency at GW in 2022. She said the university garnered her interest because of its HIV medicine track and working for “a diverse and underserved population that really needs care.”

The union, made up of nearly 90% of the university’s medical residents, initially formed in March 2023 and began contract negotiations last fall.

She feels as though the university takes advantage of how she and other residents care about their jobs and their patients. However, she continues to fight for a fair contract because she believes it is in the best interest of future residents and patients.

“We still show up, and we still have a job,” she said. “The university capitalizes on that. I will always make the conscious decision to choose my patients over myself.”

Residents say the built-up tension with the university resulted in a planned picketing last week. Many community members showed up to spread their support to the union and learn more about the cause.��

��t was a really cool opportunity to be able to educate the public because there are a lot of misconceptions about residency training,” Miller said. �� think a part of that is the healthcare institution continues to treat us and call us students.”

The GWU Hospital has declined to comment on this story. The university did not respond to multiple requests for comment.��

Union members said they have not heard back from the university following Wednesday’s demonstration.��

Union members said the negotiations have been taking longer than expected because the university has not been acting in “good faith.”

As the next meeting for contract negotiations is set for October 17, residents said they hope the fight does not lead to a strike. Nevertheless, they said they will keep fighting for themselves and the well-being of their patients.��

“We have a strong voice and a strong leverage that we can use to make medicine as a career more affordable, more diverse and essentially to look more like the people we’re taking care of in this community,” Miller said.��

The post George Washington University resident doctors picket for pay, benefits first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

George Washington University housing rules create competition for residents, students

Hannah Campbell — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 19:04:48 +0000

Third-year students are no longer required to live on campus. Now, more students and area residents are searching for affordable housing options in Foggy Bottom.��

Tatum Oliver, a fourth-year student at George Washington University, is one of many students who sought off-campus housing for the academic year. After spending thousands of dollars every month on a dorm, she had a plan to find an alternative.

However, she said, the already competitive housing market has made it much more difficult to find property in the Foggy Bottom area.

“We definitely toured and talked to umpteen realtors without response,” she said. �� have a spreadsheet where we probably reached out to 100 different properties.”

Housing and Residence Life officials dropped the on-campus housing requirement for the academic year. As of last year, approximately 2,500 students chose to live off-campus per year, with 25 to 35% of the third-year class requesting a housing exemption annually.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, students who wanted to live off-campus did not have to file a housing exemption.

“Typically, pricing with on-campus and off-campus housing is comparable if you’re pretty good about it,” Tatum Oliver, a fourth-year student at G.W., said.

Oliver spent last year studying abroad, so she is now living off-campus for the first time. She and a roommate started looking for off-campus housing in May, but were not able to find anything in the Foggy Bottom area.

She said her original budget was between $1,500 and $1,800 per month, compared to about $1,600 per month in an on-campus dorm. Because of the lack of responses from realtors and affordable options in the area, Oliver chose to live in a townhouse in Georgetown instead for about $2,000 per month, not including utility costs.

According to the university’s housing and residence life, students following their second-year were not required to file a housing exemption to live off-campus for the 2024-2025 academic year. Third and fourth-year students who wanted to cancel their housing could before the June 30 deadline.

After the deadline, students would be charged a $1,000 cancellation fee, according to the university’s housing guidelines.

Sophia Johnson, also a fourth-year student at G.W., wanted to live off-campus because of the expenses of on-campus housing and dining plans. In her first year living in an on-campus dorm, Johnson paid about $7,000 per semester. She described her experience finding off-campus housing as a “huge pain.”

��’m not from D.C., and I go back home to the West Coast for summers,” she said. �� did all of my apartment searching online and couldn’t do any in-person touring. I think the difficulty was finding a convenient, affordable option.”

Johnson said many of the bigger student apartment buildings charged more than her budget allowed. After searching, she found a studio apartment in the Foggy Bottom area for $1,650 per month plus electric and WiFi expenses.

The Savoy, located at 1101 New Hampshire Ave, is one off-campus housing option for students after their second year.

��t’s very hard to find property,” Samer Kuraishi, real estate agent and president of The ONE Street Company, said. “We’re in a low inventory market, and demand is super high.”

Kuraishi launched the real estate company in 2017, focusing on residential and commercial real estate and developments. He said because of increasing homeownership prices, there is a need for more housing opportunities in the area.

“There is going to be competition across the board that could put a lot of pressure on student housing,” he said.

Kuraishi said the company consistently works with G.W. students to find housing rentals in the area. The application process for rentals is the same for students, but he said they typically include a co-signer because of a student’s lack of income.

The company is also developing a 48-unit apartment building at 2121 Ward Place NW. Kuraishi said the building will be marketed toward G.W. students, as well as other young professionals and families in the area.

As for other future housing options, Kuraishi said there will constantly be a need for more options for both residents and students in the area.

“D.C. ‘s like the Vatican,” Kuraishi said. “The prices are going to keep going through the roof.”

The post George Washington University housing rules create competition for residents, students first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

GWU students on canceled presidential inauguration: “She’s kind of digging her own grave”

Katherine Hapgood — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 20:10:11 +0000

George Washington University students said the school’s abrupt cancellation of presidential inauguration events slated to begin today is a bad public-relations call in a series of poor PR choices from the president and her team.��

All inauguration events scheduled today through Saturday would either be canceled or held online, with select people invited to attend in person, according to an email set by the university last night.

��n light of ongoing global tensions and their impact on our community, some of this week’s activities to celebrate the installation of President Granberg will be modified, postponed, or canceled. While we looked forward to these events as originally planned, it is important for the university to focus on supporting our community,” the email said.

GW sent an email less than 24 hours before the first inauguration event notifying the community it would no longer be a public event. (Katherine Hapgood/��Ӱ��)

Most students said the canceled events do not affect the student body, as many don’t care. Additionally, some mentioned that the sudden cancellation added to a slew of recent bad press that GW President Ellen Granberg received, specifically regarding the rhetoric she used regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and how she has handled related events on campus.��

“The president is going to antagonize people no matter what side she takes. Honestly, her wording based on her first few responses weren’t good,” said Syed Fatmi, a GW senior. At one point she’s insinuating some people are terrorists, at some other points she’s taking that back and also insinuating that the other side is bad.”

“Honestly, the inauguration being canceled does not affect students very much. I’m pretty sure the major student opinion is no one cares,” he said.

Other students said that the president and the university may have been concerned that there would be protests during the events, especially since much of the temporary infrastructure for the events was erected in Kogan Plaza, where many protests are held.

Aya Khanji, a GW junior said, �� feel like they’re scared that students will speak up or do something because I feel like that would’ve been a huge possibility. I could so see people in the crowd yelling or protesting or saying something, so maybe that’s why they canceled them.”

Since Granberg received significant backlash from students for her response to a Palestinian student group projecting images on the Gelman Library on campus, communication from her office has been quiet, Khanji said.��

Granberg sent an email immediately after the situation saying, “we don’t condone the celebration of terrorism,” which indirectly called the actions of the Palestinian student group a celebration for terrorism, Khanji said.

On Tuesday, Granberg issued a announcing the increase of police presence on campus and security guards in residences as well as additional outdoor space monitoring in response to reported increased casual bigotry and direct identity-based mistreatment on campus regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“In past statements, I have made it clear that I condemn the terrorist attack on Israel and all forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Protecting and preserving our shared community, however, must go beyond making statements. I want to share the steps we are taking to support our students, faculty, and staff during this increasingly complex time,” the statement said.

�� think she’s just avoiding things; she doesn’t want to talk about stuff,” Khanji said.

Another student, Mary Catherine Kamerbeake, said, ��t may be a safety issue, I know we have a lot of protests right [on Kogan Plaza]. I know this is the main protest area.”

Inauguration event advertisements remain across campus even though the events were either canceled or are no longer public. (Katherine Hapgood/��Ӱ��)

Additionally, the inauguration events cost a significant amount of money. Construction crews installed temporary structures around campus, and the university publicized a community block party on Saturday to celebrate the official inauguration. The block party was supposed to have food for the hundreds of people attending, and there was even training promoted for students to assist in donating any of the extra food.��

“They spent a lot of money on all this infrastructure around campus for the inauguration,” Kamerbeake said. �� think it really shows how important it is.”

Prior to the cancellation of the inauguration events, GW promoted the event online and at various community meetings, including ANC and Foggy Bottom Association meetings, for months. Kevin Days, the GW director of community relations appeared at many of these meetings to personally invite community members.

The post GWU students on canceled presidential inauguration: “She’s kind of digging her own grave” first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

GWU to inaugurate its first female president in 200 years: here’s why it matters

Katherine Hapgood — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:36:11 +0000

Ellen Granberg will be officially inaugurated as the 19th president of George Washington University this week, with events starting Wednesday and continuing into the weekend.

Not only is she the first woman to hold this office at the university, but she is also the first president to openly be a part of the LGBTQ+ community.��

Granberg and her wife Sonya Rankin moved into the GW F Ave residence earlier this year. (Katherine Hapgood/��Ӱ��)

Prior to her role at GW, Granberg served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She served in similar leadership and administration roles at Clemson University and is a sociology scholar specializing in self, identity, and mental health.��

In an with the student newspaper The Hatchet last week, Granberg said she plans to spend her remaining first year as president ending the medical faculty associates’ debt crisis, increasing alumni engagement, and bolstering GW’s academic medical enterprise.

Kim Lee, the director of community strategy and engagement at the American Council on Education, a major coordinating body for U.S. higher education institutions, said, “There’s an applause for George Washington and other institutions that have identified women at the helm, but still there is yet more to be done, particularly when you look at the demographics of the student population.”

While the number of female college and university presidents grew from 9.5% in 1986 to 32.8% in 2021, a representative mismatch remains, according to research conducted by ACE. The majority of students at colleges and universities are women, but only a third of the institutions’ presidents are.��

�� think that representation plays a really big role in ensuring that women can see themselves in leadership positions so I think that we still have a lot of work to be done in terms of just ensuring that we can create pathways for women to succeed and to ascend in the college presidency,” said Danielle Melidona, a senior analyst at ACE who worked on the American college presidents study.

Search firms will sometimes only include women, or members of other under-represented groups in higher education, in the search pool to appear inclusive or diverse or to meet a quota, Lee said.

This was not the case for Granberg, said Christian Zidouemba, the student member of the GW Presidential Search Committee.��

“This search overall was not a diversity hire, it was to pick the best person for the job,” he said.

Kogan Plaza undergoes construction as temporary structures are built for inaugural events this week. (Katherine Hapgood/��Ӱ��)

Zidouemba, a former student body president, said the committee was looking for someone who could meet the university where it was in terms of recent changes and aspirations, and who could advance GW. Granberg was the person who rose to the occasion, he said.

“This also shows that higher education is changing. You don’t have to come from a certain background to lead a university,” he said. “ If you have the knowledge, the background for it, the sky’s the limit.”

Lee said one of the main barriers for women aspiring to higher education positions, especially as university and college presidents, is that they are continuously told they are not prepared and need additional professional development, which is advice men are less likely to hear. Additionally, women are less likely than men to think they are qualified for the job if they do not meet all of the criteria listed in the job description.��

“The more emphasis on inclusivity, I think it really will have an impact on the outcomes, particularly for students, for the community,” Lee said.

GW students say they feel represented by having a female president at the school, but so far they don’t know much about her and have not seen much from her in regards to her work at the school.

“We don’t have much interaction with her, she’s a figurehead,” said Kyla Rounsoville, a GW freshman.

GW encourages community and student body attendance for the inauguration events this week. (Katherine Hapgood/��Ӱ��)

She and Kimaya One-Routier, another GW freshman, said they’ve only seen glimpses of her at large events where she’s giving speeches, so they don’t really know anything about her.

Another first-year student at the university, Samantha Berman, said that while Granberg has only been at GW for a short time, she’s done a decent job, specifically with her handling of an incident on campus this past week. to students, parents, and other members of the GW community in response to the images projected on the Estelle and Melvin Gelman library.��

Berman said she thought this was the right thing for the president to do.

Several members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A, which represents where GW’s campus is located, met with Granberg in recent months. ANC Commissioner Trupti Patel said it was clear that Granberg wanted to be seen as a resource and as someone who was involved at the beginning of a situation instead of debriefed after.

�� think she wanted to emphasize that she wanted to be engaged with the community, wanted to be seen as a partner,” Patel said.

However, the ANC has not had a true opportunity to work with President Granberg yet.

At the most recent ANC meeting Oct. 18, commissioners Jim Malec, and Dasia Brandy, who represents the GW campus area, also expressed positive sentiments about the new president. Brandy, a senior at GW, introduced a resolution welcoming Granberg into the community. Kevin Days, director of community relations at GW, also spoke at the ANC meeting, inviting the community to join the inauguration festivities.��

While Granberg has technically been in office since July, her formal investiture ceremony will be held Friday, Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.��

The post GWU to inaugurate its first female president in 200 years: here’s why it matters first appeared on ��Ӱ��.