Freshmen and Sophomores Arrive on Campus As University Reopens
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Monday, August 23, 2021 I Vol. 118 Iss. 5 INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 WWW.GWHATCHET.COM What’s inside Opinions Culture Sports The editorial board puts Check out our GW men’s basketball the upcoming in-person Orientation Guide announces pair of new academic year into for tips on how to graduate assistant perspective. acclimate to campus. coaches. Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Freshmen and sophomores arrive on campus as University reopens ABBY KENNEDY opportunities to explore Weekend, while meetings ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR D.C. Students can attend a for more than 450 student mix of in-person and on- organizations were forced With upperclassmen fi - line programs and some to turn their operations nally resuming their long- will be open to both incom- digital. Campus residents awaited traditional college ing classes, like Monument totaled about 500 last fall experience, two classes Walks – a nighttime walk and 1,500 this past spring, have arrived on campus for around the National Mall but sophomores said al- the fi rst time, experiencing with orientation leaders. though some may physical- mixed emotions about nav- Students said they feel ly know their way around igating campus life as the “excited” to learn what D.C., they still feel they will year gets underway. life is like as a college stu- be learning how to navigate More than 10 fresh- dent but “nervous” and life both on campus and in men and sophomores who “overwhelmed” by the un- the classroom. will start their fi rst year in knowns of what their fi rst Klugewicz said this year person with a full student year may look like. Tess will be a period of “im- population on campus said Klugewicz, a sophomore mense adjustment” for her they are looking forward to double majoring in politi- and her fellow classmates feeling like a “real” college cal science and American as students continue to student after a year-and- studies, said returning to learn about campus and a-half of living their aca- campus will be an “un- rely on upperclassmen, demic life through a screen precedented” situation for professors and staff to aid during the COVID-19 pan- sophomores who will learn them in adjusting to every- demic. For the fi rst time in to navigate campus and live day activities like fi nding recent memory, the Univer- away from home halfway classes and using the Vex. sity will hold orientation through their collegiate ca- “I think everyone com- for two classes of students reer. ing out of almost two years PHEBE GROSSER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER who have yet to spend a full “The last time that I was of virtual schooling will all Students said they signed up for on-campus events through the New Student Orientation program like campus year on campus in hopes of in a classroom was as a be struggling, especially tours, trips around D.C. and a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to acclimate to the city and build community. acclimating them to GW’s fresh senior in high school,” in terms of social dynam- in-person environment. she said. “So, it’s very weird ics and fi guring out how to they will be welcomed like being virtual for so long, Grace Chinowsky, a After New Student Ori- to have to go into a college interact with people again, freshmen and supported as we’ve kind of lost a lot of freshman majoring in jour- entation programming setting and not really know how to interact with a pro- they transition to on-cam- our social skills, in terms nalism and mass commu- was held virtually because how to act in a college class- fessor, how to get up early, pus student life. She said it of interacting and meeting nication, said the transition of the pandemic during room or how to really be a get to where you need to be, will be crucial for students new people and making to a reopened campus has the last academic year, the college student, but I am a go to an actual location,” to have a support system friends, feeling comfort- been especially “intimidat- University will off er ori- sophomore.” she said. within the University com- able, putting yourself out ing” for her after moving entation for freshmen and Sophomores spent their Klugewicz said the deci- munity that can ease their there,” she said. “So I think across the country from her sophomores this week with fi rst year at GW connecting sion to hold New Student nerves and uncertainties the orientation events are home in Washington. academic sessions, campus to their peers through vir- Orientation for sophomores about campus. defi nitely going to help tours, social activities and tual events like Colonials is “admirable” because “Coming back from with that.” See ORIENTATION Page 3 Administrative shuffl es, COVID-19 What to expect from GW’s planning headline summer news presidential search process DANIEL PATRICK Leadership changes expand the faculty committee ISHA TRIVEDI May that he would step consisted of 10 trustees, GALGANO After LeBlanc announced that will consult with trust- NEWS EDITOR down at the end of the six faculty members, the STAFF WRITER that he would retire at the end ees on the presidential search upcoming school year president of the Alumni of the upcoming academic process to ensure more diver- As University Presi- as tensions between him Association, a staff mem- NICHOLAS PASION year following calls for him sity of faculty rank, gender, dent Thomas LeBlanc and the GW commu- ber and the Student Asso- STAFF WRITER to resign, liberal arts profes- race and discipline. closes out his tumultuous nity reached an all-time ciation president. sors welcomed the leadership Following Blake’s depar- tenure this academic year, high. Professors said they By August of 2016 From administrative change while STEM faculty ture, LeBlanc named Vice offi cials plan to spend the hoped GW’s next presi- trustees had chosen na- shakeups to a phased reopen- felt disappointed that LeBlanc Provost for Faculty Aff airs coming months engag- dent would have a more tional executive search ing of campus following a didn’t do enough to unite the Chris Bracey as interim pro- ing in an extensive search collaborative and trans- fi rm Isaacson, Miller to year of shutdowns, the GW University behind his vision vost and said he would allow process to identify the parent approach to lead- help conduct the process. community has seen unprece- to enhance STEM off erings. the next University president next University president. ing the University. Offi cials said in 2016 that dented turnovers throughout Student leaders said LeBlanc to oversee the search for a The presidential search Former University the fi rm would identify the COVID-19 pandemic. also failed to prioritize stu- permanent replacement. In process will be managed President Steven Knapp, a “qualifi ed and diverse University President dent interests with issues like June, offi cials named deputy by the Board of Trustees, LeBlanc’s predecessor, an- pool of candidates” and Thomas LeBlanc announced fossil fuel divestment. general counsel Charles Bar- spearheaded by a search nounced his departure on would advise the search in May that he would step Experts in higher educa- ber as the interim vice presi- committee made up of a similar timeline, publi- committee. down from his position at the tion were unsurprised at the dent and general counsel trustees, faculty, students cizing in June 2016 that he With the news of LeB- end of this academic year, and announcement given LeB- after his predecessor, Beth and alumni that will se- would depart the follow- lanc’s departure now the following month, former lanc’s rocky tenure at GW, Nolan, announced she would lect a search fi rm to assist ing July. more than three months Provost Brian Blake – who though the Board of Trustees retire in March. with the process and help Here’s a look back at old, offi cials have yet to worked with LeBlanc at the had maintained their sup- narrow down candidates the most recent search provide any updates on University of Miami – stepped port for the president amid COVID-19 policies based on feedback from and what to potentially developing a search com- down to become the president the turmoil and consistently Offi cials said in early July the committee and the expect from this year’s mittee and selecting a of Georgia State University. lauded his eff orts to lead the that students must attend in- GW community. Offi cials process: search fi rm. Offi cials also developed and University out of the pan- person classes in the fall – ex- have declined to share tweaked their fall reopening demic. cept for a limited number of any updates on trustees’ Assembling a Expanding faculty plan throughout the summer, Offi cials said in late May classes designated for online progress with the search presidential search representation requiring community mem- that the Board had started instruction – after announc- and what timeline they committee By the end of August bers to be vaccinated against discussions about the search ing in April that all students, expect to follow since a By the end of June 2016, 2016, faculty began to ex- COVID-19, receive regular process for the next president faculty and staff must be fully University spokesperson the same month Knapp press concerns that the tests and wear face coverings but declined to comment on vaccinated against COVID-19 last told The Hatchet in announced he would be search committee lacked while in campus buildings. its timeline and whether LeB- to return to campus.