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Monday, May 17, 2021 I Vol. 118 Iss. 3 INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 WWW.GWHATCHET.COM What’s inside Opinions Culture Sports The editorial board Discover a Corcoran Check in with argues that it’s well past student’s senior thesis women’s tennis as time for D.C. to become film about medical they recap their A-10 a state. racism. semifinal run. Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Bunch calls on graduates to lead with empathy in Graduates celebrate virtual Commencement address Commencement with ISHA TRIVEDI NEWS EDITOR small gatherings ABBY KENNEDY YANKUN ZHAO to celebrate their virtual ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Commencement under CO- ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR VID-19 guidelines after of- TARA SUTER ficials announced the event Standing in the halls STAFF WRITER would be hosted online in of the Smithsonian Castle, March, drawing “mixed” re- former professor Lonnie Class of 2021 graduate actions from students. Grad- Bunch thought back to a Frederico Michelin’s Com- uating seniors said they’re time when a stranger pro- mencement day will not organizing celebratory din- tected him from a mob of take place on the National ners, watch parties and pho- White teenagers carrying Mall this year, but instead of tos with friends and family baseball bats and rocks at graduating before a crowd around campus to celebrate the age of 13. of thousands, he’ll gather their accomplishments and Bunch, the secretary with friends to watch their create memories with some of the Smithsonian Insti- college years conclude on- form of personal gathering. tution and the first Black line. Michelin said he also person to hold the title, Michelin, a sociology enjoyed seeing the Com- said the incident showed major, said he started plan- mencement-themed struc- him the impact of stand- ning for his own National tures placed around campus ing up for what’s right in Mall experience to celebrate for students to visit and take the face of adversity and Commencement in Septem- pictures with in their Com- taught him to never ste- ber under the assumption mencement attire. that Commencement would “I just kind of under- reotype others. Bunch said DANIELLE TOWERS | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR the stranger’s willingness most likely be held online stood that it would be online Bunch will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree when officials eventually hold an in-person because of the COVID-19 and just I was fine with it,” to defend him demon- Commencement ceremony. strated that there are times pandemic. He said the re- Michelin said. “I wasn’t re- when everyone, no matter Graduates had attend- sity are part of the human nities during these hard cent increase in the number ally expecting much from how strong, fast or smart, ed the University remotely condition,” he said. “What times. He cited Studs Ter- of vaccinated people across them to give us anything. I can benefit from the “sus- for more than a year amid matters, though, is how we kel, a famous oral histori- the country impacted his think what was nice is that tenance, inspiration and the COVID-19 pandemic, respond to these moments. an he met during his time decision to bring his par- they did decorate campus.” guidance” of others. and GW was the only col- Adversity, like your edu- in Chicago, as someone ents from New York to D.C., Officials said in a release “At that moment, I lege in the District to hold cation, can prepare you for who headed toward the celebrate with a dinner and last month they would be learned that help comes their Commencement vir- the world, can instill em- direction of “doing good” participate in small celebra- unable to host a gathering from unlikely places and tually. Officials plan to in- pathy, inspire action.” through his advocacy for tions with friends. on the Mall because of the that generosity of spirit vite both the Class of 2020 He urged graduates the “voiceless” in history. “It definitely has allowed National Parks Service’s re- binds our humanity, irre- and Class of 2021 back for to seek and accept help “If you have that com- me to invite my parents to strictions on large gather- spective of race, religion or in-person ceremonies on whenever needed, espe- mitment to do good, you’ll come down, a celebratory ings. In the release, officials background,” Bunch said. the National Mall at a fu- cially from the friends be able to handle adversity, dinner and it’s also allowed also said after having con- Addressing the gradu- ture date when “it is safe they made and professors you’ll be able to embrace me to kind of plan with my versations with students, ating Class of 2021 as the to do so.” they learned from at GW, the ambiguity and change friends what we want to do graduates and families they University’s first virtual Bunch acknowledged because no one is an “is- that life is all about.” with whether that’s outside heard “repeatedly” that stu- Commencement speaker, the added burdens gradu- land.” Bunch will receive a or inside,” he said. dents would rather wait to Bunch told GW’s new- ates endured over the past Bunch, a former mu- Doctor of Humane Letters Michelin is one of more hold Commencement on the est alumni to use their year because of the pan- seum studies and history honorary degree when of- than half a dozen gradu- Mall when they could invite education and empathy demic and the national professor between 1990 ficials hold an in-person ates who said in interviews as many friends and family they planned small gather- as possible. to contribute to making reckoning on racial and and 2000, also encouraged ceremony. the United States a better, social injustice. graduates to support each ings with other vaccinated kinder place. “Moments of adver- other and their commu- See COMMENCEMENT Page 4 friends and family members See GRADUATES Page 5 Board of Trustees approves fiscal year 2022 budget ISHA TRIVEDI cretion – research-related travel and ternal contradiction” but is part of the school and University-wide,” Officials said the changes will NEWS EDITOR the dean’s research funding were a “tradeoff” that financial leaders Madeleine Jacobs, the Board’s aca- allow them to address these lower prioritized in the target,” Board often have to make when building demic affairs committee chair, said level cases in an “educational” way YANKUN ZHAO Chair Grace Speights said in an in- budgets. at the meeting. “She has provided while increasing consequences for ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR terview Friday. “So you know we Trustees also approved a new extensive service to the University, repeat offenders. feel that there is a priority that has policy to assess institutional risk and we express appreciation and The revisions also include an The Board of Trustees passed been given to research.” when considering naming op- gratitude to Dean Jeffries for her increase in representation among the budget for the upcoming fiscal Joe Cordes, the co-chair of the portunities and introduced Bruno distinguished years of service and academic panels and other minor year at a meeting Friday. Faculty Senate’s fiscal planning Fernendes, the University’s new her dedication and commitment to changes to the Code’s language for The budget approval comes on and budgeting committee, said the treasurer and vice president of GW.” clarification and efficiency. The -Stu the heels of ongoing disagreements budget includes expanded fund- finance, during the Board meet- Trustees also recognized two re- dent Association and Faculty Sen- between faculty members and Uni- ing available for faculty merit pay ing. Richard Jones, the president tiring longtime GW staff members ate approved the Code’s changes in versity leaders over which areas of increases but also limits use of de- of the GW Alumni Association, with resolutions of appreciation, March. funding to prioritize in the FY 2022 partmental funds for expenses like also announced he would be step- honoring William Carnago, the di- The Board also approved the budget. Faculty have argued that of- research. ping down and will be replaced by rector of Board operations, who will nominations of Adam Conner, Pa- ficials should direct more funds to Cordes said there is no formal Christine Brown-Quinn, an alum- retire after 21 years of working at mela Lawrence and Sam Shekar as research endeavors to make up for limitation on the use of depart- na of the School of Business and a GW and Beth Nolan, the senior vice new trustees for four-year terms be- lost opportunities during the pan- mental funds, which include unre- member of its Board of Advisors. president and general counsel, who ginning this June and extending to demic, but administrators have said stricted gifts from donors, but they The Board adopted a resolution was named general counsel emerita May 31, 2025. they view the upcoming fiscal year are recommending that faculty of appreciation for Pamela Jeffries, and is retiring after 14 years. “On behalf of the committee, as a “transition year,” looking to al- defer their requests of the funds in the School of Nursing dean, who The Board approved updates we’re excited to welcome this group locate money to a surplus to invest the upcoming fiscal year since they will depart at the end of June to to the Code of Academic Integrity of outstanding individuals and look in the University’s long-term well- are subject to an “overall spending head the nursing school at Vander- and Code of Student Conduct to forward to the opportunity to meet being.

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