Tuesday February 16, 2021 I Vol. 117 Iss. 21 INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER • SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 WWW.GWHATCHET.COM What’s inside Opinions Culture Sports The editorial board Read our rundown Men’s and women’s breaks down how about the best meal swimming and diving GW should spend its prep delivery services find their sea legs as COVID-19 relief. to meet your needs. competition returns. Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Hill becomes first candidate to begin campaign SA Senate approves for SA president Catherine Morris as MAKENA ROBERTS CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR executive vice president MAKENA ROBERTS SAMANTHA SERAFIN of this organization. This CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR STAFF WRITER is our time to lead, to be truthful and to be trans- The Student Association The current Student As- parent. I believe we can do Senate confirmed Cath- sociation president became it together.” erine Morris, the senate’s the first to announce his Hill, the SA president, chief policy adviser, as ex- campaign for the SA’s top said Morris has been a ecutive vice president in spot for the next term Tues- “lifesaver on the senate a special senate meeting day. staff” as a senior policy Sunday. SA President Brandon advisor this year and had SA President Brandon Hill – a junior who previ- an “instrumental role” in Hill presented SA Sen. Kate ously served as executive facilitating the GW’s com- Carpenter, U-at-Large and a vice president and as- munity’s access to The Wall Hatchet photographer, last sumed the presidency last Street Journal, The Wash- week as his pick for execu- month – is running on a ington Post and The New tive vice president after he platform to improve course York Times. He said Mor- ascended to the presidency affordability, student in- ris’ values like integrity, and left the EVP spot open, clusivity in governance honesty and professional- but the senate rejected his and internal operations in ism are of “dire” need to nomination. Morris said the SA. Hill said he will the SA and the University. she learned “what is possi- work with members of the “As a friend, a colleague COURTESY OF BRANDON HILL ble in the SA,” like advising SA Senate and officials to and a fellow [School of Hill touted achievements related to student refunds for dropped courses and Pass/No Pass policies as part on legislation and facilitat- Media and Public Affairs] help students regain stabil- of his record of listening to student voices. ing meetings with admin- ity following the COVID-19 student, I have full faith in istrators, while working Morris’ abilities to serve pandemic and expand cul- half for candidates to run Hill said in his three students,” Hill said. “And under the “phenomenal over a divided body of stu- tural resources on campus this year. years in the SA, he served they all start with students leadership” of Hill and for- dents,” Hill said. “Morris outside of the Multicultural Hill said the relation- on the student engage- expressing concern or stu- mer SA EVP Amy Martin, knows that we get nowhere Students Services Center. ships he has built with of- ment committee where dents raising their voices.” who held the position in from wishing each other “I think I am someone ficials throughout his time he collected “anecdotal Hill said he hopes to the 2019-20 school year. the worst and making who doesn’t take myself too in the SA will give him data” from students on the work with administrators “They push me to be a backdoor deals.” seriously and still takes the an advantage if elected Mount Vernon Campus to to ensure financial support better advocate and a better Hill said at last week’s work I do seriously,” Hill as president because he gauge interest in providing policies implemented due student leader,” she said. senate meeting that he was said. “And that’s how you “won’t have to start from lockers for those students to the pandemic will re- “I’m excited to have the op- “disgusted” by the “back- add personability to the the ground up.” on Foggy Bottom. He said main in effect in the future. portunity to follow in their door deals” some senators work that we do and allow He said he has built a as a Columbian College of He said officials should footsteps of leadership.” had been making in an at- students to feel comfortable “super collaborative” rela- Arts and Science senator, he continue to allow students Morris previously tempt to deny Carpenter, bringing issues to you and tionship with Mark Diaz, established the Black Sena- to register for classes with served as an undergradu- his previous pick, the posi- believing that you’ll actu- the executive vice president tors Caucus, which he said an outstanding tuition bal- ate Columbian College of tion. ally act upon them, rather and chief financial officer. has sparked the creation of ance of up to $2,500 instead Arts and Sciences senator, Senators also unani- than them shouting into an He said they have worked other caucuses in the body. of reverting back to a previ- a finance committee aid mously approved a piece of empty hole.” together to advocate for fi- He said as the executive ous threshold of $1,000. and as the vice chair of legislation endorsing a fac- Hill is required to gath- nancial policies for students vice president, he worked “The University has the finance committee. She ulty petition that calls on er at least 250 signatures in the past, like extending with officials to increase been doing some really said she is looking forward the University to “commit during the candidate regis- the timeline for when stu- the amount of refunds a positive things to impact to continue advocating for itself” to diversity, equity tration period from Feb. 24 dents can receive a refund student can receive if they the student experience,” students during the re- and inclusion through hir- to March 3 and be approved after dropping a course. drop a course and imple- Hill said. “They’ve been mainder of the term, “in a ing “a cluster” of faculty of by the Joint Elections Com- “Having those power- ment an optional Pass/No deemed as temporary, so I time when students need it color. An informal group mission to qualify as a ful and strong relationships Pass policy for students want to make sure that the the most.” of faculty is circulating a candidate. The senate ap- with administrators just during virtual instruction. University doesn’t rubber “This is a time we re- petition to administrators proved legislation in No- makes it more of a collab- “I think these are all is- band back in terms of the commit to student advo- to hire 18 minority faculty vember that cut the number orative effort rather than a sues that have been driven financial policies that were cacy,” Morris said. “This is members, primarily in of required signatures in fight,” Hill said. by the students and for the implemented this year.” when we decide the future CCAS. Experts say GW diversity audit must focus on strengths and weaknesses CARLY NEILSON mented similar diversity as- of development based on the STAFF WRITER sessments using third-party negative responses, with three audits to improve campus cli- committees to tackle the 12 ar- EVA CHILLURA mate. eas. REPORTER Officials said in late Janu- She said the assessment ary they would complete the also allowed NYU officials to Experts said the Univer- audit by late spring and will localize the negative responses sity-wide external diversity use the “coming weeks” to to specific departments and audit officials announced late find an external party to con- “borrow” successful practices last month could lead to cam- duct the audit. from some departments and pus-wide improvements in Lisa Coleman, the chief apply them to others lacking in diversity and inclusion if it can diversity officer at NYU, said mentorship or innovation. Of- effectively reveal both GW’s administrators implemented ficials were able to identify ex- strengths and weaknesses. an assessment called “Being@ clusionary conduct, problems Administrators said they NYU” in 2017 to assess diver- with program recruitment and will use the findings to cre- sity, inclusion, equity and be- retention discrepancies in the GRACE HROMIN | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR ate an action plan to improve longing by surveying students, climate assessment, she said. GW’s medical enterprise has administered 8,600 vaccines to D.C. residents over the age of 65 GW’s financial aid policies, the faculty and staff across all of Faculty members have re- and to health care personnel. GW Police Department’s inter- NYU’s campuses globally. cently been calling for officials actions with staff and students She said officials hired to hire more diverse faculty at and diversity in the Univer- three external firms – Rankin GW. An informal group of de- Students to be eligible for sity’s hiring practices. Experts and Associates, Helios Educa- partment chairs and program in diversity in higher educa- tion Foundation and the Cen- directors began circulating a tion said a diversity audit can ter for Diversity Education and petition earlier this month call- vaccine in D.C. Inclusion at the University of ing for officials to implement a provide data about GW’s po- ISHA TRIVEDI tential shortcomings to help of- Maryland – to conduct the sur- “cluster hire” of underrepre- are “actively develop- President Thomas LeB- ficials choose where they need vey and report the findings to sented faculty members. ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR ing” events to support lanc’s leadership. He said to allocate the most resources the institution. Ron Idoko, the diversity community vaccination, the qualitative results of needed to address issues of di- Coleman said GW officials and multicultural program Administrators said increase access to the the survey are currently versity, equity and inclusion. should not approach the diver- manager at the University of D.C. health officials vaccine and address ra- “somewhere between Nine of GW’s 12 peer sity audit “looking for prob- Pittsburgh, said Pitt has con- will treat out-of-state cial and geographic dis- 300 and 500 pages” so schools, like Syracuse Uni- lems” but searching for goals. ducted several “climate assess- students living in the parities in the District’s he expects the results versity and the University of Coleman said the assess- ments,” both campus-wide District as city residents vaccine distribution. “might come a few days Rochester, have conducted a ment found overwhelmingly and program-specific. He said when they become eli- These disparities have after” Feb. 22, when the university-wide pulse or tem- “positive” results and high- these surveys try to assess feel- gible for the COVID-19 continued as Wards 4, results were originally perature surveys to gauge stu- lighted key areas of improve- ings of inclusion on campus vaccine. 5, 7 and 8 – where Black slated to be released. dent and faculty opinion on ment, with 83 percent positive from both students and faculty Lynn Goldman, the residents make up more LeBlanc also said af- diversity within the schools. responses and 17 percent nega- to find identity groups who dean of the Milken In- than half of the popula- ter several officials took Other institutions, like New tive. She said NYU officials de- “may require more engage- stitute School of Public tion – continue to have a pay cut last April to York University, have imple- veloped 12 “themes,” or areas ment.” Health, said at Friday’s the highest number of mitigate the financial Faculty Senate meet- COVID-19 cases. impact of the pandemic, ing that officials are Borden said officials the salaries have been also examining vaccine so far have delivered a “restored” to their June regulations for Virginia total of 8,600 vaccina- 2020 levels, but officials and Maryland to help tions – which officials are did not receive any bo- facilitate access to the delivering at the Lerner nuses in fiscal year 2020. vaccine for GW commu- Health and Wellness He said officials have not nity members. William Center – to D.C. residents had any conversations Borden, the chief quality over the age of 65 and about taking bonuses in and population health health care personnel. fiscal year 2021. officer for the Medical He said while hospi- Blake, the provost, Faculty Associates, said tal officials are currently also provided a report vaccinations for health limited to vaccinating on the University’s core care workers at the GW patients who live in the academic indicators and Hospital are “largely District, they are work- outlined how academic complete for those who ing to figure out how to metrics like GW’s enroll- want them.” vaccinate Medical Fac- ment levels and yield GW launched clini- ulty Associates patients rate have been affected cal trials for Moderna who live outside of the by the pandemic. Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine District and “hope that Faculty senators last August, and the GW will change soon.” unanimously voted to Hospital was named a Arthur Wilson, the approve a slate of mem- distribution site for Pfiz- chair of the senate’s ex- bers as the executive er’s vaccine in December. ecutive committee, said committee nominating A group of hospital em- at the meeting that offi- committee, which will ployees became the first cials are working to com- work to nominate the to receive the vaccine FILE PHOTO BY JACK FONSECA | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER pile the quantitative and members for the execu- GW joins nine of its peers in conducting a university-wide probe of diversity at the institution. that same month. qualitative data of a fac- tive committee in the Borden said officials ulty survey of University 2021-2022 session. February 16, 2021 • Page 2 NEWS THE GW HATCHET

THIS WEEK’S RE-IMAGINING HIGHER EDUCATION WORLDWIDE AFTER THE MIDDLE EAST IN REFUGEE HISTORY EVENTS COVID-19 Feb. 18 • Noon EST • Free Feb. 17 • 9:00 a.m. EST • Free Join two Middle East scholars as they discuss the This seminar will engage chief executive officers to explore how the role the Middle East has played in modern refugee pandemic has impacted their institutions to the internationalization of history and how historians should respond. higher education and local responsiveness.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren received an honorary degree from GW and NewsFebruary 16, 2021 • Page 2 Feb. 22, 1969 gave remarks to students at Winter Convocation. SMPA director prioritizing community, diversity in first year MAKENA ROBERTS director, Waisbord said the sors should incorporate CONTRIBUTING NEWS largest challenge he’s faced resources like diverse read- EDITOR has been overseeing the ings, materials or podcasts implementation of virtual in course syllabi to appeal As the University was teaching methods, which to all “experiences and gripped by the COVID-19 included restructuring interests” to support stu- pandemic, Silvio Waisbord course content, readings dents’ community engage- was just stepping into his and assignments to fit an ment. role leading the School of online platform. Media and Public Affairs. He said SMPA officials He said he has found an Waisbord, who previ- sent a survey to students advantage in virtual learn- ously served as SMPA’s over the summer to gather ing in that faculty can more associate director, said he their feedback from the easily bring in speakers initially agreed to take the spring 2020 virtual semes- with “different experiences position for one academic ter in preparation for the and backgrounds” from year until officials could “technology needs and sit- around the world. He said conduct a full external uations” of the coming fall he has pressed professors search for a long-term di- semester. The survey asked to seek guest speakers and rector. But after the rise of students about their expe- has planned conversations GRACE HROMIN | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR the COVID-19 pandemic rience with virtual classes with faculty about fostering Provost Brian Blake said he intentionally tripled the acceptance rate of transfer students in 2020 relative to 2019 and a University-wide hir- to change the composition of that year’s class. last spring. diversity in the materials ing freeze, Waisbord said he Waisbord added that taught in the classroom. agreed to remain in the role while he understands He said he facilitated a for an additional year while school members may be survey at the beginning of Yield rate falls amid pandemic as GW continues to respond “maxed out” during the the year regarding diversity to the academic and com- pandemic, he asked faculty and inclusion in SMPA to academic metrics remain steady munal effects of the virus. to carve out time to provide gauge students’ feedback Waisbord replaced for- feedback about how the about the issue. mer SMPA Director Frank school could improve. ISHA TRIVEDI Officials also accepted 69 committed to maintain- Sesno, who served in the Engaging the SMPA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR percent of transfer students ing the number of tenured role for about a decade. Improving diversity community in 2020, more than triple the and tenure-track faculty In his first year, he said Waisbord said increas- Waisbord said he has ZACH SCHONFELD previous year’s acceptance to 75 percent of the faculty he prioritized maintaining ing SMPA’s faculty diversi- met monthly with SMPA’s NEWS EDITOR rate, to boost enrollment. population, but the number relationships with students ty is an “obvious” goal but Student Advisory Board – a The four-year gradua- dropped from 74.8 to 74.1 and faculty, especially how to effectively achieve student group that provides Officials said GW’s fresh- tion rate increased slightly percent among regular fac- in light of the pandemic. that goal is more complex. feedback to SMPA officials – man yield rate dropped to a to 79 percent, nearly tying ulty members this year. Waisbord added that he He said one approach to hear comments and ideas 10-year low as the pandemic a record high, while the six- The percentage of non- has encouraged professors could be recruiting officials that help shape students’ continues to alter the Uni- year graduation rate is ex- tenured or tenure-track to integrate diverse course in SMPA to develop con- experiences. He said the versity’s enrollment. pected to decline “slightly” faculty this year increased materials into their cur- tacts with fellow schools, meetings are “very impor- Provost Brian Blake said from last year. from 25.2 to 25.9 percent ricula and hired a diverse newsrooms and media or- tant,” especially in a virtual at a Faculty Senate meeting Nine percent of new University-wide. The Fac- group of faculty. ganizations with employ- environment, for students to Friday that the COVID-19 students had a high school ulty Code states that the ees who might be interested provide suggestions, even pandemic caused shifts GPA of below 3.2 in 2020, ty- percentage of regular fac- Tackling remote in teaching full time or part as small as updating a web- in some academic metrics ing with 2017 for a 20-year ulty members in non-tenure learning time at GW. site, on issues officials may closely tracked by officials, low. The percentage of new track appointments “shall In his first semester as He said SMPA profes- not be aware of. like enrollment levels and students with high school not exceed 25 percent in any yield rates. The most recent GPAs between 3.4 and 3.75 school.” data also shows improve- increased slightly to 33 per- The number of regular ments in providing students cent, Blake said. tenured or tenure-track fac- more flexibility to pursue Blake added that stu- ulty decreased from 871 to interdisciplinary studies dent retention rates fell this 851 this year, and Blake said and double majors, he said. year, largely because about he approved 15 new tenure- 4.5 percent of students took track hires “a few weeks Student metrics leaves of absence during the ago” to address the gap. Of- GW’s yield rate – the pandemic. ficials implemented a hiring percentage of admitted The percentage of stu- freeze last March to miti- students who attend the dents graduating with two gate the financial impact of University – for incoming majors increased from 14.1 the pandemic. freshmen dropped from percent to 14.9 percent this Compared to 2011, the 23.8 percent to 17.4 percent year, which Blake said is a percentage of tenured or in 2020, the lowest since at measure of students’ abili- tenure-track faculty mem- least 2011. Officials received ties to cut across fields of bers increased in six schools a nearly record-high num- study at GW. Officials in- – the Columbian College ber of freshmen applica- troduced an option for stu- of Arts and Sciences, the tions in 2020 as they sought dents in the Elliott School of Elliott School, the Milken to reduce the size of the un- International Affairs to pur- Institute School of Public dergraduate population but sue a Bachelor of Science in Health, the School of Engi- ultimately admitted mul- 2019 to encourage students neering and Applied Sci- tiple rounds of waitlisted to also study STEM fields. ence, the School of Medicine students once the plan was and Health Sciences and the COURTESY OF SARAH CRISCI put on hold during the pan- Faculty metrics School of Nursing, accord- In his first year, SMPA Director Silvio Waisbord’s priorities have included bolstering diversity efforts, demic. Blake said officials are ing to Blake’s presentation. smoothing the transition to remote learning and keeping the SMPA community intact virtually. Students with COVID-19-positive roommates briefly move to stay healthy ABIGAIL OSBORNE student who desires to quaran- REPORTER tine outside their assigned unit” may do so. She said officials clean JARROD WARDWELL each temporary unit after use with ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR disinfectant products approved by the Environmental Protection With residence halls filling up Agency and according to guide- with doubles and some quads last lines from the Centers for Disease month, students said they’ve had Control and Prevention. to either quarantine with room- Students who opt to stay in the mates positive for COVID-19 or same unit as someone who’s posi- move into empty units to avoid tive for COVID-19 should draft a catching and spreading the dis- schedule for kitchen and common ease. space use and clean their room on Since the fall semester, students a regular basis, Nosal added. who test positive for COVID-19 During a community forum have been required to self-isolate with residential students and their for at least 10 days without leav- families earlier this month, Megan ing their assigned unit, while they Landry – the project director for receive mental health services and the campus COVID-19 investiga- essentials like meals and groceries tion team – said officials alert a from nearby staff members. But student of a positive case after it’s with more students living together detected by the University public this spring, officials and students health lab, which then alerts a Uni- said some roommates who might versity medical provider and the be exposed to the virus are quar- Campus COVID-19 Support Team. antining in separate rooms to cut She said after members of the down on transmission across cam- Campus COVID-19 Support Team pus. alert students that they tested University spokesperson Crys- positive, the team conducts a “full tal Nosal said students can move medical investigation” to log de- DANIELLE TOWERS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER into other units on campus for mographics, symptoms, medical On-campus students whose roommates test positive for COVID-19 have the option to move into empty rooms on campus, but no temporary stays if their room- history, potential exposure, use student used the option last semester, a University spokesperson said. mate either tests positive for the of personal protective equipment virus or is directed to self-isolate and contact tracing. One student, who asked to re- she has been cooking “mainly the ter one of them tested positive for after traveling to the District from Landry said students who have main anonymous for her room- entire time” and moved her own COVID-19 last month. Loredo said a high-risk state. She said no stu- been exposed to another student mate’s medical privacy, said she set of groceries that she purchased he and his other roommates tested dents moved units during the fall who tested positive must quar- moved out of her Shenkman Hall before move-in from her assigned negative for COVID-19 after dis- semester since most were living in antine for 10 days and wait until suite and temporarily moved to a unit into her new living space. tancing themselves for 17 days and singles at the time. their fifth day of quarantine to get unit down the hall after her room- Despite testing negative and coordinating kitchen and common Nosal said “a handful” of stu- tested. After receiving a second mate tested positive for COVID-19 completing her 10-day quaran- space use via text. dents have quarantined in empty negative test between three to five and she tested negative late last tine, the student said she opted Loredo said he struggled to units in their residence halls so far days after their first test, students month. The student said she had to stay in the separate unit since decipher between “mixed mes- this spring, most during the two- can leave quarantine, she said. to receive a second negative test her roommate was still experienc- sages” from the University, which week move-in period last month, Dan Wright, a member of the five days after her quarantine, and ing COVID-19-related symptoms. proposed a 14-day quarantine, when some students needed to Campus COVID-19 Support Team, staff members said she could leave She added that she felt Wright has and D.C. Department of Health of- self-isolate. She said officials rec- said officials drop food at - stu after a 10-day period. been helpful in calling and shar- ficials, who recommended a few ommend that students consider dents’ doors as needed via Safe- The student said both the Uni- ing information about quarantine. days longer. Receiving about a half temporarily moving out of their way delivery and Grubhub orders, versity and the city are using email Sebastian Loredo, a sophomore dozen phone calls from the Uni- unit if their roommate tests posi- coordinate family care packages and text to keep contact with her, living in a South Hall suite with versity and from the District, Lo- tive for COVID-19. and regularly check in with stu- and she has filled out a daily quar- three other students, said he and redo said the communication with Nosal declined to say the num- dents over the phone during their antine survey for potential symp- his roommates decided to quaran- medical advisers could have been ber of open units but said “any quarantine or isolation phase. toms every day. The student said tine in the same unit two days af- smoother. THE GW HATCHET NEWS February 16, 2021 • Page 3 Student vlogger series connects students to campus life during pandemic NICHOLAS PASION letter when they are published. REPORTER Srivastava, a photojournal- ism major and Hatchet photog- Three students living on rapher, said she has filmed five campus this semester are con- different vlogs this academic necting with off-campus stu- year for the program, focusing dents, alumni and prospective on topics like her first day of students as the University’s of- school, self-care tips she prac- ficial campus vloggers. tices and advice for studying The Office of Student Life during finals week. launched the “Connect to Cam- In Srivastava’s most recent pus” student video blog series vlog earlier this month, she last semester following Maansi detailed the University’s CO- Srivastava, Anne Laurie Joseph VID-19 safety guidelines as she and Eddie Micheletti’s daily walked viewers through her lives attending GW during the experience and process mov- pandemic. The vloggers, short ing back onto campus. She said film makers who document she lived at home in Wilming- parts of their life, said the pro- ton, Delaware, during the fall gram has helped current and semester where she filmed her prospective students learn first three vlogs, which was dif- about their life on campus dur- ficult because her dog was of- ing remote learning. ten barking in the background University spokesperson and she was juggling a full Crystal Nosal said the students course load. have sought to produce new “It definitely had its own vlogs on the University web- difficulties,” she said. “But I sites and social media platforms think it all worked out in the at least every other week since end.” it launched in October. She said Srivastava, also a University each vlog averages about 9,500 photographer, said members PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR views across the University’s of the Marketing and Creative The University is embracing nontraditional means of engaging with prospective students and alumni through three platforms – Twitter, Face- Services office asked her to three official student vloggers. book and Instagram – where film the vlogs, being the only they are posted. student who worked in the of- She said the University has fice. She said she was excited to dents have even reached out to through campus was energetic website or through their vir- received positive feedback share her life with viewers, also her asking how they could be- as she and her friends joined a tual tours or through YouTube overall from students, includ- recruiting Joseph, her friend, come a vlogger. celebration in Black Lives Mat- channels,” Joseph said. ing alumni who have comment- as another vlogger for the pro- “When people DM me, I am ter Plaza. Joseph said the videos can ed on the vlogs reminiscing gram. like, ‘Oh my god, hi. I do go Joseph said students have connect students who may feel about their own campus expe- Srivastava said vloggers to GW with you. This is really reached out to her about the lonely at home to life at GW or riences, like seeing snow for the pitch their own ideas based cool,’” Srivastava said. “Lots of vlogs, asking for advice on who are interested in learning first time. on recommendations from stu- the time it’s usually nice things, making friends, the move-in more about campus life, which “The name of the series dent viewers and the creative not on the Insta that you mes- process, food options and well- she sees as the ultimate goal means exactly that – we want services team before filming saged, but on my more personal known campus spots for stu- of the program. She said she to make GW students feel con- the three-to-four minute long one people will be like ‘Oh my dents who have not yet been joined the team already feeling nected to campus,” Nosal said videos. She said she and the god can we see one of your to campus. She said the series comfortable with the film and in an email. “We realized early team exchange ideas, but once plants or can we see one about might not continue next aca- editing process because she on in the fall that it would be the team has approved a vlog your room.’ And I’ll be like ‘Oh demic year as more students re- had already published videos important to show our students theme, she can decide the shots, my god that’s such a good idea, turn to campus, but she hopes on YouTube. what life at GW and around with a few reshoots depending and I’ll pitch that to GW.’” the series will continue into “Having this platform, spe- D.C. is like. This is especially on the needs of the publishing Joseph, a sophomore and next year as college vlogging cifically for me, it gives me a those first-year and transfer team. student vlogger living on cam- nationally grows to attract pro- way to show GW or show pro- students who still haven’t been She said that she’s received pus, said one of her favorite spective students. spective students the stuff I on campus because of this un- compliments from students vlogs she filmed last semester “Personally, before I came wish I had seen before coming precedented pandemic.” through her personal social was the city’s reaction to Presi- to GW, I never came to campus, to campus,” Joseph said. “And The vlogs are shared media accounts about her vid- dent Joe Biden’s election in No- so everything I learned about I do think it actually is making through the GW Today news- eos. She added that some stu- vember. She said the mood felt GW was either through their an impact.”

IN BRIEF Officials to increase incoming class size next year after pandemic causes enrollment drops

Officials hope to increase the incom- ing class size by upward of 300 students next year, a sharp reversal from a pre- pandemic initiative to significantly re- duce the undergraduate population. Administrators announced Friday that GW will adopt recommendations made by the Future Enrollment Plan- ning Task Force – a group charged in November to develop targets for next year’s incoming class – to enroll be- tween 2,475 and 2,550 freshmen and between 150 and 300 transfer students. The targets mark a pivot away from the now-obsolete 20/30 Plan, a hallmark of University President Thomas LeBlanc’s tenure that sparked tensions between administrators and faculty. Jay Goff, the vice provost for enroll- ment and student success, said the tar- gets will serve as building blocks for SIDNEY LEE | GRAPHICS EDITOR GW’s long-term enrollment strategy. “The final set of goals really are de- signed to encourage the University com- munity to move in this direction that Opioid deaths spike across D.C., remain stagnant in would increase the diversity, accessibil- ity and affordability of GW,” Goff said. Last year, officials had sought to re- Ward 2 duce the size of the incoming class to 2,250 freshmen and 300 transfer stu- ZACHARY BLACKBURN expanded “Good Samaritan” maritan” approach to ad- es in drug overdoses and dents as part of the 20/30 Plan but ulti- REPORTER laws, which provide legal dressing overdosing can be deaths. Hunter said mental mately fell short of the overall target by protections to people who re- difficult to implement in com- health issues caused by social nearly 300 students. Opioid overdose deaths port overdoses to 911. munities with low levels of isolation and financial uncer- Officials placed the plan on hold in D.C. reached a record high Tarlise Townsend, a post- trust in the police. tainty have contributed to the in the wake of the pandemic and have last year amid a nationwide doctoral fellow at the New Townsend said local and increase in drug use, as well since said it is obsolete. surge in drug deaths, accord- York University School of federal policymakers must as decreased use of substance Provost Brian Blake said the task ing to District data. Medicine and an expert in make changes to stop what abuse recovery programs in force’s efforts will be integrated with Data released by the Office drug epidemiology and pol- is now a yearslong increase D.C. Faculty Senate committees’ work mov- of the Chief Medical Exam- icy, said the COVID-19 pan- in drug deaths nationwide, D.C. health care providers ing forward. iner last month showed that demic has likely worsened including increased access have previously been more “Over the FEPTF’s two months of Ward 2, where GW is located, the opioid epidemic. She said to safe syringes and depen- limited in their ability to ad- meetings, I asked them to be aspiration- sustained only eight opioid the added stress people have dence-relieving drugs like minister the dependency-re- al and creative, guided by a set of prin- deaths over the course of the experienced as a result of buprenorphine for those who lieving drug buprenorphine ciples emphasizing academic talent, di- year, compared to 39 and 66 the pandemic has likely in- suffer from addiction. because of the X-waiver re- versity, a safe campus environment, an deaths in Wards 7 and 8, re- creased the use of fentanyl, She said while drug de- quirement, which required appropriately-sized student body and a spectively. Experts in opioid an opioid that is “more po- criminalization laws, like providers under the Con- high-quality student experience,” Blake addiction said the COVID-19 tent than heroin” and was recent legislation in Oregon trolled Substance Act to com- said in an email to the GW community pandemic has created condi- involved in 94 percent of D.C. decriminalizing the posses- plete eight hours of training Friday. tions of stress and isolation, opioid deaths in 2020. sion of all drugs, still need to being able to administer the He applauded Goff’s work as co- exacerbating a crisis that has Wards 2 and 3 have sus- be studied, there needs to be a drug. chair of the 23-member task force, been growing for several tained the lowest number of “serious conversation” in the The Department of Health which met nine times between Novem- years. deaths since at least 2016, both country about whether they and Human Services elimi- ber and January to develop the targets. The data show that the 349 logging eight deaths during could potentially be better at nated the X-waiver require- The members included faculty senators, overdose deaths in the first the first 10 months of last year, preventing overdose deaths ment for physicians treating professors, deans and a student. 10 months of the year had according to the data. Every than strict drug laws. up to 30 patients at a time last “Jay’s transparency, patience and already surpassed the previ- other ward has tracked more District officials have month, which Hunter said know-how were key to leading the ous yearly record, set in 2019 than 20 opioid deaths over the taken steps over the past few would increase access to the group to a collective recommendation,” at 281 deaths, by 24 percent. course of last year. years to address the opioid drug. Blake said. “This aspirational work is The data show that in 2020, The report also showed epidemic, including when Silvia Martins, an associ- shaping GW’s future for the better.” there were 34.9 deaths per that opioid deaths dispropor- officials decriminalized the ate professor of epidemiology month, an almost 50 percent tionately affected Black resi- possession of drug parapher- at Columbia University, said increase from the 23.4 deaths dents, accounting for 85 per- nalia in December and ex- improving access to health per month in 2019. cent of total deaths citywide panded access to overdose-re- care for medically under- Mayor Muriel Bowser last year despite making up versing drugs like Naloxone. served residents could lead vowed in 2018 to cut opioid only 44 percent of the popu- Courtney Hunter, the vice to a decrease in opioid deaths deaths in half by late 2020. lation. Townsend said these president of state policy at the among marginalized popula- The D.C. Council approved “alarming trends” still need Connecticut-based anti-ad- tions. legislation in December that to be studied, but continued diction organization Shatter- She added that social and broadened the number of “racist policing and racist proof, said COVID-19 restric- economic stress caused by the D.C. government employees drug war policies” play a role tions have created limited pandemic have likely caused –Zach Schonfeld approved to carry naloxone, in creating those disparities. access to inpatient addiction the spike in drug-related a drug overdose antidote, and She said the “Good Sa- treatment, causing increas- deaths. THE GW HATCHET NEWS February 16, 2021 • Page 4 Students add jobs, heavier course loads to online learning schedules LAUREN SFORZA up the time,” Peterson said. took five courses last semes- STAFF WRITER “I’m not somebody that ter in addition to beginning does well with idle time. I an independent study on TIFFANY GARCIA really needed something to foreign relations, which he ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR do and the family that I’m had more time to dedicate working for now was really to researching. He said the With extra time on ready and willing to accom- extra free time during the their hands, students said modate whatever class obli- pandemic allowed him to they are taking advantage gations I had, and so we just take on the independent of their relatively open worked out a schedule that study. schedules by enrolling in works for everybody.” He said he is taking four more courses, conducting Peterson said she would courses this semester and is research and working full not have been able to accept continuing his independent time. a full-time position if she study so he can spend more While some students were taking in-person class- time preparing to apply to have felt low morale and es this semester, and she is graduate school. He said productivity as online in- grateful for the flexibility the “biggest” challenge this struction continues, oth- of an online schedule. She semester has been not be- ers said the virtual learn- said taking care of a seven- ing able to interview people ing has allowed them to month-old has helped her in person and find physical be more flexible with their mental health because her copies of archived sources time because they do not job does not require her to in Gelman Library for his have to commute to classes focus on daily news cover- research. or schedule their courses age as she would in an in- “There’s a big issue of around a job. In interviews, ternship. finding sources, so I have to PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY WALSH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER seven students said they She added that nan- do research projects that I The upside of remote instruction for some students has included the ability to earn extra income on the side have felt themselves per- nying has been “great” can do with available online with jobs or to catch up on missed lectures via video recordings. form more efficiently in because she gets paid full primary sources,” Thomas- classes and are focusing on time, which is not guaran- Patterson said. “I am a lot grams in his spare time, Martineau added that want to gain some of that professional opportunities teed at an entry-level job or better off than a lot of other which he said surprised he has begun to take more back during grad school.” like full-time internships internship. people. I still have challeng- him after a “rough” first challenging courses in his Junior Emma Sauder, and course loads. “There’s a lot of unpaid es, but they’ve been relative- year academically at GW. concentration to stand out an international affairs Senior Tess Peterson, a internship culture within ly small and I’ve done some He said he decided to among his peers when he and history major living political communication GW, and obviously what really interesting research.” challenge himself and take applies for graduate pro- off campus, said she origi- major living in D.C., said I’m doing now is not an un- Sophomore Michael a full course load last se- grams, which he has more nally planned to take her she accepted a part-time paid internship,” Peterson Martineau, an international mester because of virtual time to plan and look into. required international nannying job last semester said. “But I think the idea of affairs major living in Al- instruction, which he oth- “I wasn’t too interested,” economics course over the while taking five courses. having a more real job was lentown, Pennsylvania, said erwise would not have dur- Martineau said. “And then summer at a local city col- She said she cut down on more appealing to me with his grades have improved ing normal times. He said it since the pandemic, I was lege. Instead, she decided to time because she doesn’t all this time that I had, and while attending classes vir- was only after offhandedly getting a lot better grades take the economics course have to commute to Foggy especially one that was so tually because he had more taking an elective on the and into some good mate- and two writing-intensive Bottom for classes. caring and thoughtful.” time to focus on his stud- philosophy of human rights rial in my classes. And I feel courses this semester be- “A lot of seniors in their Junior Mark Thomas- ies and enjoy learning the because of online learning like I’ve missed out on some cause she had more time second semester try to get Patterson, a history major material. He said he began that he found what he want- college experiences, and during the day to work on full-time positions just to fill living off campus, said he to research graduate pro- ed to concentrate in. part of the decision was, I assignments, she said.

Black Student-Athlete Alliance creating space for Black athletes CELESTE NORAIAN ganization’s secretary, taged families in the D.C. REPORTER sophomore Maya White, community. Williams will represent the group said the organization A group of Black stu- in a panel discussion this hosted a virtual fund- dent-athletes is banding month, hosted by the raiser in December with together to build commu- Black Pre-Law Student Georgetown and Ameri- nity on and off campus. Association, to discuss can universities’ Black Since registering on Black students’ advocacy Student Athlete coalitions GW Engage in November, efforts. The event is a part to raise money for GOOD- the Black Student-Athlete of the Black Heritage Cel- Projects, a D.C. homeless- Alliance has held events ebration. ness focused nonprofit. like fundraisers for D.C. BSAA teamed up with Williams said the team nonprofits and four stu- the GW Sports Business raised more than $1,800 to dent body meetings for Association last week directly help families and Black student-athletes. to host a separate BHC children in three of D.C.’s Executive board mem- event, a panel discussion impoverished neighbor- bers said the organiza- called “Black Is More hoods receive toys and tion will hold events like Than A Player.” The event COVID-19 supplies for professional development featured Black profes- the holidays. She said discussion panels to sup- sionals and former ath- the team is preparing port each other in GW’s FILE PHOTO BY DONNA ARMSTRONG | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER letes who shared their to launch another fund- Jeri Epstein, the chair of the Foggy Bottom and West End ANC, will head the infrastructure committee, predominately White experience pursuing their raiser later this month to which will focus on priorities like safer sidewalks. athletic department and career in the sports indus- raise funds for COVID-19 advise the department’s try as a minority. supplies, which they will ongoing diversity and in- She said the athletic package and distribute to clusion efforts. department has been families in collaboration ANC to launch four committees to Black Student-Athlete supportive of the orga- with the local nonprofit Alliance President Alexis nization by spreading Martha’s Table. tackle community issues Williams, a senior on the awareness of the group “Outside of Foggy women’s soccer team, via their website and Bottom and the NW area, RIO MATSUMOTO Disabilities Association on He said he hopes to or- said the student organiza- word of mouth to teams D.C. has a very large REPORTER projects like safer sidewalks ganize a task force including tion formed in September and coaches to recruit Black population, and I for pedestrians. She’s consid- local community organiza- in response to the sum- more members. The ath- think everyone who goes A local governing body ering asking James Harnett, tions, advocates and residents mer’s Black Lives Matter letic department painted to GW doesn’t necessar- will launch committees this a recent graduate and the to pressure Mayor Muriel protests and a call for am- a raised fist and “BLM” ily see that because our year to prioritize small busi- former chair of the ANC, to Bowser and the D.C. Council plifying Black individu- on the Smith Center hard- institution is a [predomi- nesses, pedestrian safety and help co-chair her committee, to pass legislation and invest als’ voices. She said the wood court last semester nantly White institution], homeless communities in she said. in services that prohibit dis- organization should have in support of Black lives and we are located in and Foggy Bottom. Epstein said the neigh- crimination “on the basis of been made “a long time and a “commitment” to around predominantly Jeri Epstein, the chair of borhood life committee will whether or not you have a ago” to combat the lack educating people about White neighborhoods,” the Foggy Bottom and West focus on homeless services, home.” of representation some the plight of Black Ameri- Williams said. “Fundrais- End Advisory Neighborhood like the distribution of meals Omictin said he hopes Black students have felt cans. ing for organizations that Commission, said members from food pantries and sani- the committees will allow in GW’s athletic depart- Sophomore Melody help Black D.C. residents of the local ANC will partner tary supplies. The economy community members to “air ment. Williams, the public rela- is fundraising for the D.C. with community members committee will work to bring grievances” and discuss In addition to its stu- tions manager of BSAA community as a whole.” to assemble four committees more businesses and con- more frequently the prob- dent leadership, BSAA is and a member of the White, BSAA’s secre- overseeing infrastructure, sumers to Foggy Bottom af- lems they face in the District. led by head women’s ten- women’s volleyball team, tary and a student-athlete the economy, strategic plan- ter the COVID-19 pandemic He said he’s contacting com- nis coach Torrie Brown- said at least 15 students on the women’s track and ning and neighborhood life. prompted several business munity groups, students and ing and Administrative attended the group’s first field team, said members Commissioners said the com- closures, and the strategic local advocates and residents Associate Shatara Stokes, general body meeting in are eager to promote the mittees will give community planning committee will to join as members. both of whom will be able November to discuss the group and their voices members more say in the work to best allocate the com- He said he will push for to connect the students to organization’s goals. She on campus by collaborat- ANC’s affairs and help com- munity’s resources, like ANC a structured schedule for all officials about topics like said a “major component” ing with student orga- missioners prioritize long- funding to the city’s projects, committee meetings rather diversity recruitment. of the group’s mission nizations like the sports term projects, like supporting she said. than the current plan to host “We should be able to is to build a community business association and businesses and combating Epstein said she selected meetings when an issue aris- come together, create a where students can have teams in the athletic de- food insecurity. each committee leader ac- es. group and solidify unity conversations about top- partment. She said the Epstein said she’ll head cording to their passion and Barbisch, a former ma- but also speak on impor- ics relevant to the BLM group is not allowed to the infrastructure committee, expertise in each subject. jor general in the U.S. Army, tant issues because there movement and their per- meet in person even if Commissioner Joel Causey She said Causey has experi- said she decided to head the aren’t that many Black sonal experiences as a members are currently will lead the economy com- ence in redevelopment and strategic planning committee athletes in the athletic de- student-athlete. on campus but is look- mittee, Commissioners Trup- business, Patel and Omictin to set priorities for the ANC’s partment or even at this She added that BSAA ing forward to holding ti Patel and Yannik Omictin have advocated for protect- projects based on her leader- school,” Williams said. is working to reach out in-person meetings next will chair the neighborhood ing homeless communities ship experience with the mili- Williams said the or- and support disadvan- year. life committee and Commis- and Barbisch has developed tary during the Vietnam War. sioner Donna Barbisch will planning skills with a con- She said her committee will spearhead the strategic plan- centration in public health work to establish long-term ning committee. She said she through her leadership in the plans in collaboration with hopes to have each commit- U.S. Army. the D.C. Office of Planning to tee “in full swing” by April. The economy commit- address issues, like homeless- She said she plans to re- tee held its first meeting last ness, unsafe traffic and local cruit members of the GW week to discuss plans to up- streetscapes. community, local employ- zone the apartment complex Barbisch said she hopes ees and retired community at Columbia Plaza, which the committee will prioritize members to serve on the com- would permit the construc- these local issues and draw mittees so commissioners tion of a larger building. up “road maps” to efficiently can gauge local interest and Omictin, who will lead resolve them. boost community awareness the neighborhood life com- She said she’s currently of local government. Epstein mittee, said his concentration working to update the ANC’s said she spoke with Kevin should be divided among website with information Days, the University’s com- two separate committees, one about the committees’ proj- munity outreach director, covering public neighbor- ects and opportunities for about enlisting students, fac- hood life issues and another community member engage- ulty members and University addressing senior living. He ment for local constituents, President Thomas LeBlanc in said dividing the committee nonprofits and businesses. committee membership. would expand discussions She said she encourages com- Epstein said she wanted to about neighborhood life into munity members to attend lead the infrastructure com- conversations about home- more ANC meetings and ex- mittee because of her long- lessness and food insecurity, press their interest in joining term collaborations with the but the single group can still committees to commission- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARIELLE BADER | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR District Department of Trans- “get those solutions on the ers in hopes of addressing Black Student-Athlete Association members are teaming up with other Black organizations to host portation and the American table.” community problem-solving. Black Heritage Celebration events this month. WHAT THE UNIVERSITY WON'T TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK The number of open units to students whose roommates have COVID-19 p.2.

FROM GWHATCHET.COM/OPINIONS

“For the sake of safety, please fight the urge to go out for a date or hookup this Valentine’s Day.”

OpinionsFebruary 16, 2021 • Page 5 — JENNA BAER ON 02/10/21 GW should spend COVID-19 relief funding in ways that help students and staff STAFF EDITORIAL The University has $13 economy cratered. million in COVID-19 relief The hiring freeze has also funding to dole out. That money meant fewer adjunct professors – should be put toward helping which, according to department students and staff. chairs, has led to fewer course GW has needed to lay off offerings for students. Students’ employees, institute hiring learning experiences, already freezes and cut certain weighed down by the virtual department budgets. On top environment and pandemic of that, students and their stress, have been pulled down families have been hit hard by even lower by having fewer the pandemic, so much so that courses available. This has been officials ran out of money to give even more pronounced in the quickly after their first load of humanities, like English and pandemic relief came in. When anthropology, that had been the University distributes its in the crosshairs for cuts even COVID-19 relief money, officials before the pandemic. Putting should prioritize distributing some of the COVID-19 aid toward the funds to students because thawing the hiring freeze could they are the core of this help fix that problem. University, and students need This funding could also to be able to pay tuition. After present a great opportunity that, the money needs to go to enact the proposed “cluster toward ending hiring freezes hiring” plan that officials and and rehiring staff that were let faculty have been discussing. go at the start of the pandemic. The proposal, aimed at Students are dealing with diversifying GW’s White- unprecedented times. Many dominated professoriat, calls students have lost monetary for onboarding 18 new faculty prospects like Federal Work members of color and expanding Study or are in need of more the University’s Africana income for their family and studies program. Officials, while personal expenses. Jobs are seeming to support the plan in scarce and dangerous during principle, have cautioned that this pandemic. Students with it would be difficult to enact demonstrated need should not in the pandemic environment. need to put themselves in the Still, it is worth considering as line of fire when the University an option right now rather than has the means to assist them. later on if GW is able to put some Last time the University pandemic relief aid toward received funding, students had hiring. to demonstrate need in order to Obviously, the editorial board get funding. The same criteria is not the entity that makes these should be applied this time. decisions, and we are not at all All students who need extra privy to the full range of factors support should be able to access that the University has to weigh assistance from the University. when allocating resources. On top of all of the students Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to who need more aid this semester, articulate some of the different there is another group of Cartoon by Hannah Thacker needs the University has and students on campus who might different places this funding need more help: undocumented could go. The University is students. Last time, around, should the tides turn Once students are taken care faculty and staff. These cuts only as strong as the students undocumented immigrants and they be left out once again, of, the GW community would be meant that many employees, who learn there and the faculty and students were left out of the University should prioritize well-served by the University starting with events staff back and staff who work there – so federal relief. While it looks as if undocumented students who trying to undo many of the in the spring, wound up jobless making sure they benefit first they will be included this time are receiving no federal relief. pandemic-era cuts it made to just as the virus spread and the and foremost is paramount.

Universities nationwide must stop Op-ed: End GW’s complicity in the practicing legacy admissions climate crisis n theory, legacy admissions seem There are a slew of other ways GW and ne year ago, we wrote to can reduce skin cancer and published articles,’ and ‘Dr. like a good way to get more students other schools can bring in donations you outlining the two cataracts. This type of advoca- Cox’s credibility was such that into higher education. But they have without leaning on wealthy alumni primary ways GW was cy work from Dudley and oth- his testimony was so unreli- Ihistorically been used to discriminate with college-aged kids. Ocomplicit in the climate crisis – ers at the RSC was described able that it was inadmissible,’” against people on the basis of their About 42 percent of private colleges its fossil fuel investments and in a recent article as continu- according to GW professor religion, and the practice has evolved and universities considered legacy its continued affiliation with ing “to harm the most vulner- and former OSHA head Da- into a way to keep elite institutions elite. status in their admissions process, the Regulatory Studies Center. able communities impacted by vid Michaels. These three ex- The practice originated in the according to a 2018 survey by Inside At the end of June, thanks to environmental racism.” amples are part of a long list 1900s, when colleges and universities Higher Ed. In a 2019 study, Inside the hard work of relentless stu- An issue that should be of anti-science individuals that started to reward the families of Higher Ed found that children of dent advocates, you commit- of utmost concern to the Uni- Dudley has allowed to trade their alumni on merit in the hopes of alumni were more than three times ted GW to the most aggressive versity is that Dudley has re- on GW’s name and credibil- donations. But over time, it became more likely than non-legacy applicants steps in the University’s histo- peatedly used her position to ity through the vehicle of the used to discriminate against Jewish to be admitted into some of the most ry to combat the greatest crisis elevate and lend credibility RSC. and Catholic students. The process has selective institutions in the country. of our time. In committing to to climate deniers, fossil fuel In 2018, 10 funding agree- evolved to favor White and wealthy At Harvard University, the rate of full divestment from fossil fu- cronies and other discredited ments for the Mercatus Cen- students today acceptance for legacy applicants was els, carbon neutrality by 2030 backers of pseudoscience by ter at George Mason Univer- more than five times higher than and reversing GW’s entire allowing them to use GW’s sity were released and showed that of non-legacy applicants. These 200-year carbon footprint, you name, despite a lack of af- clear violation of the norms of Laya Reddy aligned with science and ac- filiation with the institution. academic freedom by giving Columnist applicants are strongly preferred in the admissions process, making it knowledged the need for our Among these individuals is donors influence over hiring. more difficult for non-legacy students society to transition off of fos- Julian Morris, who wrote a Dudley was the director of the to be accepted. This means that a large sil fuels as quickly as possible. public comment for the RSC Regulatory Studies Program Despite the negative implications of portion of admissions spots are being Why, then, has the University on GW letterhead advocating at the Mercatus Center while legacy admissions on students of color filled by people who already had a leg continued to lend its name and for the rollback of the Obama- some of these practices were and low-income communities, many up, excluding qualified applicants who credibility to climate deniers era fuel efficiency standards. ongoing. In addition, three of colleges and universities across the may not have had the same privileged and efforts to deregulate the Morris is a well-documented these 10 norm-violating agree- country continue to use the process. background. fossil fuel industry by harbor- climate denier who “has called ments were with the Koch School administrators give preferential Many students, at no fault of their ing the RSC? global warming a myth cre- Foundation, including one treatment to children of alumni who own, do not have parents who attended ated by a coalition of self-inter- from 2009, the same year the tend to be from wealthier families, the universities to which they are Sunrise GW ested scientists, governments RSC was founded. Other RSC and as a result, place those who are not applying. An analysis of the racial and environmental groups.” donors have been found in related to alumni at a disadvantage. and economic factors involved in the This group also includes Rich- violation of the principles of Legacy admissions is unfair, racist and admissions process makes clear that The problem starts at the ard Belzer, a former Exxon academic freedom in the past classist and must end at the University these processes are not only just unfair, top. During her time in then- consultant, who has advocated as well. It is reasonable to ask and schools nationwide. but also discriminatory against people President George W. Bush’s that the EPA strike the finding if RSC funding agreements A decade ago, children of GW of color, first generation students administration, RSC Founder that greenhouse gases pose a with the Koch Foundation (or alumni were reported to be one and a and people from lower-income and Director Susan Dudley threat to human welfare. He any donor) from the same era half times more likely to be accepted communities. was the official responsible made his intent to undermine similarly violated the norms than applicants who did not have a Only 27 percent of Black children for the suppression of a find- climate science very clear: of academic freedom. Part parent who attended the University. and 21 percent of Hispanic children ing from her own administra- “The goal here is not to change of the reason these practices To this day, the University offers have a parent with a bachelor’s degree, tion’s Environmental Protec- the policy but to correct the have potentially been allowed special programming, like information compared to 53 percent of White tion Agency scientists that science.” Dudley has also lent to permeate the University sessions and orientation activities, students. It is far less likely for students greenhouse gas emissions GW’s name and credibility to is because GW lacks an in- to new and prospective legacy of color who apply to college to have a pose a danger to human wel- Tony Cox, yet another indus- stitutional conflict of interest students. Off the bat, officials should parent that attended a university, and fare. Dudley has a long history try consultant and “fringe” policy and does not mandate publicly disclose whether or not their specifically the university to which they of advocating for increased scientist who has been paid to its centers and departments to admissions process still favors legacy are applying, than White students. They emissions and downplaying undermine science that could disclose funding or terms of applicants. But even the notion that are also less likely to benefit from the the existential threat of climate hurt his clients’ products. Cox funding agreements. legacy families have access to exclusive preferential treatment given to legacy change. She has argued that is so discredited that even –Sunrise GW is a student events is inherently elitist. GW must, students. Some have even referred to there are benefits to climate Bush’s Food and Drug Admin- organization dedicated to fighting like all other colleges and universities legacy admissions as affirmative action change, such as preventing istration commissioner struck the climate crisis. The following that engage in this discriminatory for White people. the next ice age. She also once his testimony from proceed- op-ed is an abridged version of a behavior, stop giving legacy students – Laya Reddy, a sophomore majoring in argued that smog is beneficial ings. “The agency found that letter delivered to officials and the and their families the upper hand. political science and music, is a columnist. because its blocking of the sun he ‘intentionally misquoted Board of Trustees last week.

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RELEASED “SUPER MONSTER” AN ALBUM BY CLAUD CultureFebruary 16, 2020 • Page 6 THIS WEEK: Takeout-only joints dubbed ‘ghost’ restaurants DIEGO MENDOZA Cane CONTRIBUTING CULTURE EDITOR This Caribbean street food joint was known in pre-pandemic times Some eateries are now referred for its small, narrow and intimate to as “ghost kitchens,” but don’t dining room where no reservations worry, they’re not haunted. were ever taken. The chefs have Since the onset of the pandemic, elected to remain a takeout and de- many establishments have chosen livery restaurant only for the time to shut down their dining rooms being, according to the restaurant’s and switch entirely to takeout and website. You can order its mouth- delivery service. With new COV- watering jerk wings ($12) or grilled ID-19 variants becoming more and oxtail ($22) on Grubhub or Uber- more prevalent, you may want to Eats. ditch your dinner plans and instead 403 H St. NE. Open for lunch order from these “ghost” kitchens Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 for takeout or delivery using apps p.m. and dinner from 4 to 8 p.m., and like UberEats and Doordash. until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Here’s a rundown of restaurants where you can grab your meal to go: Ben’s Chili Bowl Perhaps the backbone of D.C. Thamee cuisine, this nationally famous res- Eric Wang — the owner of D.C.’s taurant was recently featured in only full-service Burmese restau- the History Channel’s #SaveOur- rant — said that he has chosen to Restaurants initiative – a philan- keep his dining room closed for the thropic effort that highlight’s some safety of his staff and customers. of America’s historic eateries that “The only way we’ll fully open have been impacted by the pan- back up for dine-in services is when demic. While the Nationals and the vaccines are available to people FedExField locations remain closed, of all ages and backgrounds in DC, you can order classics like the origi- and when all of our key staff mem- nal half-smoke ($7.70) on UberEats, bers have completed their vaccina- Grubhub and Doordash for pickup tions,” Wang said in an email. or delivery from the U Street or H HATCHET FILE PHOTO For now, you’ll have to settle Street locations. For many restaurants, health and safety meant closing down in-person dining and operating with a barebones crew for delivery and 1213 U St NW and 1001 H St. NE. takeout. for takeout and delivery from Tha- mee through UberEats, Grubhub Hours differ by location: Check here for and Doordash. For people afraid of details. up on the restaurant’s website. Try Timber Pizza Company – to place your order. Timber Pizza spice, Burmese food is a great way The Red Hen’s pasta like its gargan- In addition to its food truck Company’s pizza menu changes de- to introduce yourself to southeast The Red Hen elli with Tusacn duck ragu ($21) or that you can often find at Foggy pending on the ingredients in sea- Asian flavors because of its milder An Italian-inspired restaurant squid ink linguini ($19) that you can Bottom Market, you can order son. For instance, the winter offer- ingredients, so be sure to try a bowl using “mid-Atlantic bounty” ac- pair with one of their several wines homemade pies from Timber Pizza ings currently include pizzas, like of delicious curry stew, like Tha- cording to the joint’s Instagram, this from their extensive drinks menu. Company’s Petworth location. The the “Green Monster” ($15.50) pie mee’s catfish Mohingar ($19). eatery will keep its dining room 1822 1st St. NW. Open from 5 to restaurant does not offer delivery, with pesto, kale and zucchini. 1320 H St. NW. Open from 4 to 8 closed until further notice. Instead, 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and which means you’ll either have to 809 Upshur Street NW. Opens p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. you’ll need to download Toast for until 9 p.m. Friday through Saturday. call or use the pizza shop’s Square for dinner daily at 4 p.m. and weekend delivery or place an order for pick- site – a takeout and payment service breakfast at 8 a.m.

Q&A: Alumna discusses work as a ‘GoPuff’ ambassador

ANNA BOONE were like, “be an influenc- lot of other ambassadors- CULTURE EDITOR er!” And I thought. “I can’t type companies use, and be an influencer, I do not it translates what you post Students use delivery have any followers.” That’s into points and those points services all the time, but not the lifestyle I seek, but I translate into dollars. So one service allows you to knew a girl from my home- like I mentioned earlier, I show off all your delivered town actually, who was a could make $5 from an Ins- items for cash. GoPuff ambassador. And tagram story. So that would College students across she was much more the be worth five points. And the country are working influencer type. She has a so everything I do, I have to become brand ambas- YouTube channel, she’s try- to confirm that I did in the sadors for the snack and ing to make it in that space, Social Ladder app so that I alcohol delivery company but I was just like, “Oh, I can get the points and then GoPuff. The service al- bet that’s kind of easy.” So therefore make the money. lows brand ambassadors to I Googled the GoPuff am- But there’s no contractual make a bit of money with- bassador application. It was obligation, as far as I know, out needing to work inside a Google form. I filled it out. for me to post a certain grocery stores and other And then a few days later I amount of stuff. There are food services during the got an email that I was ac- guidelines in terms of the DIEGO MENDOZA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER pandemic. cepted. photos that we can post… HelloFresh offers students a 15 percent discount upon verification from a list price of $60 to $96 a week. The Hatchet chatted They’ll say things like, “If with 2020 alumna Natalie What does your work you post an Instagram Dannett about her experi- with GoPuff look post, it has to be clear, with- ence working as a GoPuff like? out a caption, that this is a Meal prep services for every ambassador in the age of ND: For each story that GoPuff post.” So you have the COVID-19 pandemic: I post on my Instagram, I to feature the product and kind of eater make anywhere from $2 to do so in a positive light. How did you become $5, usually closer to $5. And ISABELLA MACKINNON the week (two to five). Once and plastic offset. It offers a a GoPuff ambassa- that’s if you repost an im- How has your work REPORTER these specifications have selection of plans based on dor? age that GoPuff has made, affected your out- been determined, you can diet and health restrictions, Natalie Dannett: I’m like their graphic design look on social media Whether you aspire to select your meal choices from including the keto and paleo working in a job that team has made. If I post influencers? be the next Gordon Ramsey, the provided weekly menus, diet plan, the “Balanced Liv- doesn’t pay a lot of money. an image on my story that ND: It’s harder than you you’re looking to consume which include dishes like ing” plan, which includes I am doing a service year, I took, like a picture I took think it is. Reposting pre- sustainably or you just don’t the balsamic tomato & herb meat, seafood and vegetarian so I earn a stipend rather of my GoPuff snacks, then made graphics is so easy, want to break the bank, there chicken, pork carnitas tacos options, and the “Plant Pow- than a salary, which means I’ll make more like $10 to but coming up with original is a meal prep service for you. and szechuan pork & green ered” plan. Each plan has I make less than minimum $15. And for real posts, like content to showcase a thing Meal delivery services bean stir-fry. Some take less customizable options for the wage, which is hard to live pictures that will show up without seeming annoying like HelloFresh and Blue than 30 minutes to prepare, number of meals and desired on…I didn’t feel safe get- in my feed. or phony, or like a sellout Apron have risen to popular- while others require closer servings. Its weekly menu in- ting a second in-person is next to impossible. And ity over the past year as the to an hour to make. You don’t cludes pesto panko chicken job, like working in a res- What obligations do I think influencers with a COVID-19 pandemic keeps need to use the subscription with mozzarella, greek pork taurant, working retail, you have as a brand lot of followers on the inter- people at home and in the every week. You could cancel couscous bowls and caramel- things like that. So I was ambassador for net tend to get a lot of hate kitchen. Some services cater for a week or two if you’re ized onion melts. like, “How can I make even GoPuff? whenever they post any to vegans, while others pride cooking on your own. About $12 a serving plus tiny amounts of money just ND: As far as I know, kind of sponsored content. themselves on their relatively $60 to $96 a week. Students $8.99 in shipping, which totals to help pay for groceries I have no obligation to But the thing is, that’s how low prices. are offered a 15 percent discount to about $79 a week for three or something, not leaving make any number of posts they make their money. So I For students on a upon student verification. meals for two people. For any the house?” And I think I per week or per month or do have kind of an apprecia- budget: Blue Apron: This compa- necessary adjustments, keep Googled something like “at anything. So we use an tion for people who are able ny was created to emphasize in mind customers are charged home side hustles” or some- app called Social Ladder, to do that now that I didn’t Every Plate: This service sustainable consumption. seven days prior to the scheduled thing and all these websites which I would imagine a really have before. ranks among the cheapest of Blue Apron offers a few dif- order. meal prep services. The ser- ferent meal plans – the “Sig- Purple Carrot: For those vice has plans for two and nature” plan, “Signature for seeking entirely plant-based four people with options for 4” family plan, “Vegetarian” options, Purple Carrot is three to five meals per week. plan and “Wellness” plan. your go-to vegan service. The You can choose from weekly Some meals are quick and service offers two- or four- menus, and most meals take easy to prepare, while others person serving plans, and about 30 minutes to prepare. are more complicated. The you can select the number Options from its weekly service accommodates cus- of dinners per week. It in- menu include creamy dijon tomers with dietary restric- cludes a menu of breakfast, chicken, mushroom and tions as well as those looking lunch, dinner and snack op- pepper jack quesadillas and to order low-calorie meals. tions that include the likes of Israeli pita pockets. You can choose from dishes creamy tahini noodles, black $4.99 per serving plus like the one-pan spicy pork bean and corn quesadillas shipping. You will be udon, Spanish lamb and saf- with breakfast and lunch op- charged four days prior to fron rice and monterey jack tions that include breakfast the scheduled delivery, and Beyond burger. tacos and sunflower chick- modifications are accepted About $9 per meal and in pea sandwiches. This service up to five days prior to the each plan. Blue Apron also pro- is athlete-endorsed as Purple delivery. vides an accompanying wine Carrot partnered with NFL delivery service. football player Tom Brady in For those looking to 2016 to create his “TB12” per- hop on trending For the environmen- sonal plant-based diet meal services: tally conscious: kit. Hello Fresh: This ser- Green Chef: This busi- $11.99 per serving for the vice offers a few different ness is the first USDA-certi- two-person plan ($71.94 week- plans, depending on house- fied meal prep service and ly) and $9.99 per serving for the COURTESY OF NATALIE DANETT hold size (two or four) and the only meal prep service four-person plan ($79.92 week- Natalie Danett, a GoPuff ambassador, said she has a newfound respect for influencers’ ability to post number of meals desired for with a 100 percent carbon ly). Shipping is free. original content riffing off brands as a result of her partnership with the delivery company. GAMES OF THE WEEK MEN’S BASKETBALL MEN’S GOLF vs. Saint Joseph’s at Invitational at Savannah Harbor Feb. 17 | 6 p.m. Feb. 20-21 Men’s basketball is slated to play The Colonials will look for a better result its first game in a month after in Savannah after a last place finish in COVID-19 delays. their first meet of the season. NUMBER The number of service aces volleyball posted through its first five games, up SportsFeburary 16, 2021 • Page 7 from its 23.4 average through its first five games over the past five seasons. CRUNCH 38 Men’s and women’s swimming and diving work to rebuild routines EMILY MAISE meet. He nabbed a top-25 time SPORTS EDITOR in the 100 yard backstroke preliminaries (46.97) before After almost a year outside pacing the competition in the competitive lanes, the men’s and finals with a time of 47.29. He women’s swimming and diving also topped the leaderboard in programs kicked off a shortened the 200 yard backstroke, posting 2020-21 season last week. a 1:43.94. Both times rank No. 2 Both teams opened the in program history. season at the three-day Cavalier Head coach Brian Thomas Invitational against Virginia and said Mlynarczyk is poised to be Pittsburgh – their first of just “one of the best athletes in the three scheduled regular season Atlantic 10” but is still working meets. Swimmers said the return through his first year on the to competition helped them get college scene. into a routine and provided them In an October interview, with fresh faces to race against Thomas said 30 of the 52 rostered after months of challenging student-athletes from both teammates. programs were on campus in “It was a great practice, if the fall for training. The other nothing else, to get back into the 22 swimmers and divers were routine of racing and doing the practicing with hometown team warmups together, team teams and continuing to train, cheers, that sort of thing,” junior he added. Dylan Arzoni said. “It was just Junior Grace Olivardia said a great thing for the teams to be she was antsy to get back in a able to get down there and do competitive environment after some racing and also get back months of practicing. She said into the routine of what we do 11 months of training took some when we travel.” pressure off her first meet back, A normal swimming and but continuing to train without diving season at GW begins in competing became “annoying” October and extends through as time wore on. HATCHET FILE PHOTO Freshman Karol Mlynarczyk notched some of the fastest times in program history in the 100 yard backstroke and 200 yard backstroke the first weeks of March. But Junior Courtney Sicinski said at the men’s swimming team’s first meet of the season. this year, because of COVID-19, she and her teammates have student-athletes waited until spent time racing each other and Feb. 5 to compete again after weight training to prepare for in the 200 yard IM, nabbing a mid-March. environments athletes will face returning to practice in August. the season. She added that she 2:08.95, and posting a 4:34.71 He added that the squads’ in March. Graduate student Emils leaned on her experience and in the 400 yard IM. Olivardia main opportunity to qualify “What we’re doing to manage Pone, who chose not to take training to erase any nerves she nabbed a third place finish and for the NCAA Championships such a strange year is making part in NCAA competition last may have had coming into her the highest spot of any Colonial will be at the Navy Invitational sure we’re taking advantage of season to focus on training for races last week. in the 200 yard freestyle, March 5 and 6 – exactly one every opportunity we have to get the upcoming 2021 Olympics, “It was just a little nerve improving her preliminary time month after the season started. better because they’re sometimes said he felt “rusty” in his first wracking to start at the by two seconds. The Atlantic 10 Championship few and far between,” he said. competition back. beginning,” she said. “But once An abundance of caution due for both programs, which is “It had been 11 months since we He added that he tested a new you dive in and hit the water to COVID-19 concerns in GW’s traditionally before the NCAA competed together, so it’s really race strategy, attempting to start and you’re just swimming, it programs canceled the teams’ Championship, will now take taking some of those things we the race off strong rather than all comes back to you because first dual meet of the year Feb. 13, place April 14 to 17. can learn and just the benefit of finishing the race strong and you’ve been doing it for years leaving both programs with just Thomas said with a shortened getting races on video.” playing “catch up.” But Pone had now. And we’ve been training one meet left before the NCAA year and inverted schedule, The Colonials are scheduled no trouble seeing results in the this every single day, so once Championships March 8 to 10 his teams need to harness each to return March 5 at the Navy pool, finishing second in the 400 you just get into it, it gets much and 24 to 27. Thomas said he has competitive opportunity and Invitational. Competition starts yard IM with a time of 3:56.04. easier.” spoken with coaches as recently use it to the best of their abilities at 11 a.m. Freshman Karol Mlynarczyk Sicinski beat out sophomore as Wednesday about getting to get better because practice –Belle Long contributed struck gold in his first collegiate Alex Marlow for the No. 1 spot more meets on the calendar in can’t simulate the real race reporting. Gymnastics adapts to truncated schedule during pandemic WILL MARGERUM meet, according to a Jan. 30 competition environment. STAFF WRITER release. Zona said sharing a The third time was not space with her teammates in After three canceled the charm for the Colonials. their off time has also been or postponed meets, New Hampshire did not helpful because they can gymnastics has needed to travel to the Smith Center for constantly interact with each adapt to an ever-changing a Feb. 7 meet due to inclement other. slate this season. weather, delaying the start Senior co-captain Anna The Colonials were set to of the campaign again. The Warhol said although the kick off the 2021 campaign programs are attempting team was excited to begin with a meet at Pittsburgh to reschedule the meet for a the season as originally Jan. 24, but it took nearly future date, according to a planned, the student- three weeks for them to Feb. 6 statement. athletes were prepared for open the campaign with Foster-Cunningham said the unexpected during a a 196.150–192.950 defeat i n h e r 36 ye a r s at t h e h el m , s h e year full of uncertainty. against Towson last week. has never experienced three Warhol said when the Head coach Margie Foster- consecutive cancellations snowstorm struck D.C., the Cunningham and student- to open the season but team held workouts in its athletes said they have added that her team is calm District affinity residence HATCHET FILE PHOTO needed to be flexible with and ready to tackle any hall for the gymnasts to The squash team is preparing for a shortened season amid the pandemic. the frequent changes and obstacle with a “different compete against each other. stay focused on sharpening level of appreciation for an The team has also been their skills and bonding as opportunity.” cooking meals together to Men’s squash to play shortened a team. Cancellations and delays strengthen their bond even Athletic department have become the norm since further, she said. spokesperson Brian the COVID-19 pandemic A pandemic-stricken four-game season Sereno said GW canceled began a year ago. The 2020 season is hardly a typical EMILY MAISE instead been practicing practice. He added that its participation in the schedule was cut short due introduction to collegiate SPORTS EDITOR and will play its matches at for the first five weeks Pittsburgh meet because to the pandemic, causing an competition for the Squash on Fire, Khan said. of practice, the athletes the team lacked time to abnormally long offseason team’s four freshmen, Men’s squash returned The squad will return hit the ball to themselves “appropriately prepare” for for the Colonials that but Foster-Cunningham to campus Jan. 11 to six members of last season’s and slowly added more competition. desynchronized the team’s said it’s “almost easier” resume practice for a team and welcome two movement to work back to The next scheduled development. to manage them than the truncated season slated to new additions – freshman a normal pace. matchup was a trip Junior Olivia Zona said upperclassmen because the begin in March. Ismail Atef Abdelgawad GW joins a small to Chapel Hill for a having meets canceled can first-years can’t compare Senior Salim Khan Al and junior Henry number of squash showdown with North be a “little bit” frustrating, the truncated season to a said eight of the team’s Ohrstrom. Khan said the teams playing a season Carolina Jan. 31. But the but the team was afforded regular year. nine members are back team will play without after the Ivy League meet was postponed after extra time to practice for its The Colonials’ second on campus to compete in sophomore Moustafa and Liberty League a snowstorm blanketed eventual competitions. The opportunity to compete the team’s final season as Montaser, who earned canceled competition for much of the Northeast days Colonials have also held will come Friday at 6 p.m. a varsity sport. He said seven victories last season winter sports during the before the team was set to intra-squad sets where the when they face off with NC this season the team will playing at the top of the pandemic. The College depart. Both programs are gymnasts can showcase State, William and Mary and change its home venue, ladder, after he chose to Squash Association also working to reschedule the their skills in a simulated Oklahoma in Raleigh. players will dawn masks remain in Egypt amid the canceled team national during matches and the COVID-19 pandemic. championships and squad will compete in a Sophomore David individual national limited schedule. Varela, who notched six championships after Khan said the Colonials victories playing at the teams announced they are looking to suit up four middle rungs of the ladder, would sit out the 2020-21 times this season in back- will also not return to the season. to-back rumbles with team, according to the Women’s squash Navy one weekend and 2020-21 roster. will not play a 2020-21 Virginia another weekend. With players hailing season because of limited While GW doesn’t have from three different competition, and the its 2020-21 slate released, countries and cities majority of team members Navy has matches against around the United States, are opting to stay home GW listed for March 13 Khan said the varying rather than travel to and 14. Virginia has yet to degrees of virus-related Foggy Bottom during the announce a matchup with lockdowns meant some pandemic. men’s squash yet. athletes lacked access to Khan said the CSA Athletic department practice courts. He added will grant another year spokesperson Brian that players from Colombia of eligibility to student- Sereno said the men’s were unable to train for athletes, and because GW squash schedule is still most of the summer, but will discontinue its squash being finalized and will be some clubs in the United programs at the conclusion released prior to the team’s States remained open or of this season, student- first competition. partially open. athletes would need to The Colonials will no But now that players find another institution longer call the Matthew J. are back in the District to continue their playing Grossman Squash Courts and back to practice, Khan careers. He added home during the 2020- said he and his teammates that he has considered HATCHET FILE PHOTO 21 season. The courts are are working on separate transferring next year, but The gymnastics team’s first three meets of the season against Towson, North Carolina and New Hampshire this inaccessible due to HVAC courts and undergoing he hasn’t made his mind season have been delayed because of inclement weather or other mitigating factors. repairs, and the team has a “gradual” return to up yet.