Pops Shines in Return to DC
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BOB BARR PAGE A5 CHARLIE BROWN PAGE B1 Former pres. candidate speaks at MC Student directors take on new challenges THURSDAY The GW April 16, 2009 ALWAYS ONLINE: WWW.GWHATCHET.COM Vol. 105 • Iss. 55 Hatchet AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER - SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 "He's always played well since we put him out Univ. to take there. He's been playing like he belongs here." CHRIS BOSH on more debt TORONTO RAPTORS ALL-STAR to build SEC Knapp: Prior funding plan for science center insuffi cient by Sarah Scire Campus News Editor University President Steven Knapp said this week that the school will use debt to fund a sig- nificant portion of initial construction on the $300 million Science and Engineering Complex. Knapp and other administrators had said previously that the complex would be funded through donations, research grants and revenue from the multi-purpose complex at Square 54. But Knapp says he does not think these sources alone will be sufficient for the initial construc- Pops shines in tion. The University president told The Hatchet Tuesday that he was committed to keeping his promise of not using funds from the operating budget – which includes money from tuition – return to D.C. to construct the complex. They will instead use by Dan Greene revenue from debt, in addition to the three other Assistant Sports Editor previously cited sources. GW’s debt grew to just under $1 billion this year after the University issued and sold $200 Pops Mensah-Bonsu’s basketball career has taken him million in corporate bonds to ensure liquidity in across the globe since graduating GW in 2006 – to Spain, Italy, the tight credit market. his native Great Britain and eventually back to North America Knapp did not know how much extra debt to play in the NBA. And for a brief moment this week, he re- would be needed since it is contingent upon the turned to the city where it all began. amount raised through fundraising. In his self-described “second home," Mensah-Bonsu had “How much we need to borrow is dependent one of his best games to date in the world’s premiere league. on how much we raise,” Knapp said. “But yes, The former Colonial standout tallied nine points, a career-high borrowing is an important component of this.” 12 rebounds and five steals in 20 minutes of action Monday as While he said he would prefer not to take his Toronto Raptors edged the Washington Wizards in one of out more debt, Knapp argued the Science and the season’s final games. Engineering Complex is the most cost-efficient It was a far cry from a few months ago, when Mensah-Bon- way to improve the University’s research labs su was sitting in his Barcelona apartment with a torn shoul- and that the new building would “be worthy of der and no team, his basketball future very much up in the air. He eventually landed a contract with the Austin Toros of the See SEC, p. B4 See POPS, p. B6 Nick Gingold/senior staff photographer GWHATCHET.COM Above: Pops Mensah-Bonsu, former GW basketball player and current center Check out The Hatchet online for a video of Pops Men- for the Toronto Raptors, scored nine points in 20 minutes with 12 rebounds in a H sah-Bonsu's visit to campus, including an interview close win, 97-96, against the Washington Wizards Monday night. Top right: Pops with the former "Mayor of Foggy Bottom" about his career stands alongside his teammates during the National Anthem. Inaugural fl oat cost more than $130K Inauguration-related expense totals not yet available by Sarah Scire Campus News Editor The University’s inaugural parade float cost about $134,000 to create and operate, including the expense of flying a non-GW student to the District to paint a mural repre- senting the Columbian College, according to a preliminary estimate released this week. The float, which was one of only four in Michelle Rattinger/ Hatchet photographer the inaugural parade on Jan. 20, had a work- Sophomore Simone Freeman is the current owner ing budget of $80,000 that could be stretched of the coffee cart in front of Gelman Library. The to $150,000. University spokeswoman Tracy business is operated entirely by GW students. Schario said the $134,000 figure does not ac- count for materials that GW has resold or re- used, such as power tools used in construc- tion. New cup on “Not all of that was consumable expens- es. Some of it we are recovering in different ways,” Schario said. The GW inaugural fl oat rolls down Pennsylvania Avenue during Barack Obama's inaugural parade the block See FLOAT, p. B4 on Jan. 20. Students buy H Street coffee cart by Max McGowen UPD searches for Pita Pit thieves Contributing Life Editor by Gabrielle Bluestone food court at the time of the burglaries, but the we’ve had to deal with at any of our locations Senior Staff Writer food court area was open.” apart from this one,” Corno said. “If anything, “It beats Starbucks,” said senior Nicky Bar- Stafford said that in the fi rst robbery, the it’s surprising given the hours we’re open. nett as she purchased a cup of coffee from the Thieves that have carried out a pair of rob- two thieves that broke into the store covered There are only six hours in the day that we’re cart in front of Kogan Plaza – now run entirely beries at the Pita Pit sandwich shop in Ivory their faces while walking by security cameras. not open.” by students. Tower appear to be familiar with the store’s In the second robbery, the lone thief covered his Though Corno and Stafford said Pita Pit is Simone Freeman, a sophomore, bought the operations, University Police Chief Dolores face but had a light complexion and was wear- working with UPD to prevent further incidents, cart a month ago from its former owner, Naceur Stafford said this week. ing a dark baseball hat and dark jacket, Stafford the management of Pita Pit is ultimately respon- Negra, who decided to leave the trade after 15 Robbers have taken more than $7,000 in cash said. On both occasions, the security gate used sible for security because they lease the space years of operating Espresso and More. She has and other items in the mid-February and early to secure the front of the store was bypassed, from the University, Stafford said. since changed the name to Sol Café. April burglaries. Despite video surveillance and despite being locked. “One of the things we’ve done is stressed Freeman, who is also a Hatchet photographer, UPD offi cers regularly patrolling the residence “In the second case, we believe the indi- to the employees that they need to make sure said her decision to acquire the enterprise was hall, the thieves have not been identifi ed or ap- vidual had a key to the gate or the gate was they’re following all the security protocols so fairly spontaneous. As one of Negra’s former stu- prehended. not properly secured, as there was no apparent that we don’t have any lapses,” Corno said. dent employees, she jumped at the chance to buy “The persons responsible for the burglary forced entry,” she said. Increasing that security is important because it when he somewhat jokingly offered it to her. appear to be familiar with both the building’s Daniel Corno, the owner of the GW Pita Pit, the restaurant cannot remove or secure every- “I was upset that he wanted to sell his place, and the specifi c store’s operations,” Stafford said he has no idea why his store is being tar- thing of value, Corno said. Because the business and he said, ‘Well, do you want to buy it?’ And I said. “It appears that the suspects targeted geted. requires a bare minimum of cash on hand to said ‘Yes.’ ” times when the risk of being seen by witnesses “We take quite a few security measures on operate, Corno and UPD are focusing on better See COFFEE, p. B4 was minimal. In both cases, no one was in the our own, and truthfully this is not an issue securing the store. The GW Hatchet | Thursday, April 16, 2009 H WWW.GWHATCHET.COM Page 2 Web Extra: Senior to bike cross country for MS Alex Byers – Metro News Editor ([email protected]) Web Extra: Planet Forward debuts on PBS Emily Cahn – Assistant News Editor ([email protected]) Nathan Grossman – Campus News Editor ([email protected]) Video: Pops refl ects on his career >> Sarah Scire – Campus News Editor ([email protected]) CAMPUS Gelman fi rst fl oor SNAPSHOT Props for Pops Man given CALENDAR renovations probation for delayed until fall McFadden's assault Renovation of Gelman Li- A New York resident who Thursday brary’s fi rst fl oor, which was pleaded guilty to assaulting an HIGH 62 | LOW 44 slated to begin this spring, will employee at McFadden’s Bar and FRANCE’S RETURN TO THE be pushed back to the fall due to Grill in December was sentenced INTEGRATED MILITARY COM- technological complications, said Tuesday to nine months probation, MAND OF NATO University Librarian Jack Sig- a clerk for the presiding judge said. Join Ambassador Pierre gins. David Casagrande, 21, was ar- Vimont of France to discuss While the library is currently rested in December and charged the country's new NATO raising money for a $5 million with assault with a deadly weapon policies during the organiza- overhaul of the aging building's after he attacked a bar employee, tion’s 60th anniversary.