AFFORDABLE HOUSING PAGE A3 RECOGNIZE! PAGE B1 Knapp to off er 1,000 freshmen cheaper beds National Portrait Gallery exhibit features hip-hop THURSDAY The GW February 21, 2008 ALWAYS ONLINE: WWW.GWHATCHET.COM Vol. 104 • Iss. 43 Hatchet @ AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER - SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 Knapp says high tuition is necessary by Molly Curtis Hatchet Staff Writer OG OYIBORHORO University President Steven Knapp defended GW’s high cost in front of a televised panel JUNIOR Wednesday, explaining that it takes a lot of money to operate a rapidly growing institution while also improving national rankings. The forum held yesterday in Jack Morton Auditorium was broadcast live on C-SPAN, and included college administrators, public policy experts and students. They gathered to discuss the causes and effects of rapidly growing higher edu- cation costs and determine ways to alleviate stu- dent debt. CNN correspondent and GW professor Frank Sesno moderated the discussion, which was hosted by Public Agenda and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Knapp said GW cannot match the pricing changes recently implemented at several Ivy League schools because the University's endow- ment is too small. Sesno had pointed to a plan at Stanford University where families with low incomes would not pay tuition. VISHAL ASWANI JUNIOR See TUITION, p. B10 Univ. President to boost campus safety, security University President Steven Knapp approved findings made by the presidential task force he formed to assess campus safety and security last fall. The task force’s leadership group, which is Left photos Alex Ellis/assistant photo editor, above photo Ryder Haske/assistant photo editor GW’s primary incident response team, consists of seven high-ranking University officials. Now Freshman Avram Ramage balances on a railing while taping campaign posters to the Marvin Center that the group has secured Knapp’s approval of for executive vice presidential candidate Kyle Boyer Wednesday morning. See the story, page A6. their recommendations, the members will form a committee to implement them. “There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of people involved,” said Tracy Schario, a spokes- TAREK AL-HARIRI person for the University. “This is ongoing. You could argue that it will never be finished, SOPHOMORE Election Energy because safety and security is never finished.” The task force's three main goals are creating Candidates praise Capp, Kroeger at second Hatchet-SA Debate an online safety education program for the GW community, managing campus mental health by Emily Cahn Debate. town hall meetings – an initia- effectively and modernizing the University Hatchet Staff Writer Throughout the evening, tive started this year by Capp and Police Department’s equipment and facilities. many of the candidates empha- Kroeger. Efforts are already being made to promote The bright lights were on the sized the positive work of cur- “I am not running to be presi- and expand the use of AlertDC, a mobile and Student Association presiden- rent SA President Nicole Capp dent; I’m running because I’m a Internet alert system which informs students tial and executive vice presiden- and EVP Brand Kroeger, and said student,” said Al-Hariri, a sopho- and faculty of hazardous weather, campus tial candidates at Jack Morton they would continue the efforts more. “I have great respect for crime and safety issues. Auditorium Tuesday night as they of the present executive if elected what Nicole and Brand did this Knapp formed a presidential task force to lauded the current executive and to office. year. Many people talk but very address campus safety and security in response discussed who would best be able Presidential candidate Tarek few listen. We need to take each to the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech last to advocate for students during Al-Hariri said if voted into office, fall. The task force used Virginia Tech’s internal the Second Annual Hatchet-SA he would continue to hold weekly See SA, p. A5 assessment of the tragedy to guide their evalu- ation of GW’s campus security. Exclusively at media.gwhatchet.com, a video triple play featuring three videos from the upcoming SA election: Schario said, “You never know how things are going to roll out on your campus.” KEVIN KOZLOWSKI SA/Hatchet debate • Video tribute to student leadership • SA postering 2008 JUNIOR – Jennifer Easton Chipotle to accept GWorld The road to nowhere, almost GW students craving a burrito will be able to use their GWorld card at local Chipotle Mexican Grills within the next cou- ple of weeks, Student Association officials announced late Wednesday night. SA President Nicole Capp said the con- tract between the University and Chipotle has been signed and students can begin spending their Colonial Cash at the restaurant's 19th and M streets and Georgetown locations once the GWorld technology is installed. “I believe that allowing students to spend their GWorld money as they please is an important part of being a student at this university and so Chipotle is an exciting addi- tion to the list of GWorld-accepted locations,” byby Ayaya Mueuelll erer Capp said in a news release. HaHatctchehet StStafaff WrW itterer She said the SA worked to bring Chipotle on GWorld for several months. Student lead- GWGW is bubuilildidingng a $1.1 2 mimillllioion ror adad thahat coconnnneecctsts thehe Whihitete- ers wrote letters to Chipotle and University hahaveven PaParkrkwaway anand PePelhlhamam Halall.l. officials to show student support for a part- Thhe ror add, whwhicich isis beieingng buiuiltlt in ththe nenextxt fewew weeeeksks, wiwillll n nership between the burrito eatery and GW, alallloow coconnstrt uctiionn vehicclel s eaeasisierer accccesess toto thehe sitite whwherere said SA Executive Vice President Brand PePellhhamam Halall wiwillll be dedemom liishsheded andd rebbuiuiltlt. ThThe uppgrgradadeded i o Kroeger. reresisidedencce hahallll wili l hah vee 28888 bededs – ababouout tripplel theh numu beb r of t c “We encouraged students to write let- bebedsds thehe dororm hahas nonow – anand wiw lll alslso inincrcreaasese thehe amomoununt u ters to Chipotle,” said Kroeger, a junior. “As ofof stuudedentn orgrgananizizatatioion anand didininingng spapacece on ththe MoMoununt VeVer-r- tr a result, it got the GWorld program on their nonon CaCampmpusus. ThThe tototatal prprojojecect wiwillll cosost ababouout $6$60 mimillllioion anand s radar.” shshououldld be cocompmpleletete by fafallll 201010,0, accccoorrdidingng to thhe cacapipitatal bubud-d- n SA Director of Dining Services Francis co geget.t. 's Murray, a sophomore, said the decision to UnUniviverersisityy Spop kekespsperersoson TrTracacy ScSchaharir o sasaidid thehe roaoad isis ad pursue a GWorld partnership with Chipotle slsligghthtlyly morore exexpep nsnsivive thhanan norormam l roroadad prorojejectcts bebecacaususe ofof ro was an easy one. n ththe shshapape-e reetataininining ststruructtururess theh slolopepe of ththe sisitete wilill rereququirire.e il. o “Whenever I asked students what res- “T“Thahat papartr iciculularar parart ofof thehe Mouountt Verernonon cacampmpusus hasas Univ. sp s $1.2 m taurants needed to be added to GWorld, the sosomem preetttty dedeepep slolopepes,s,” ScSchaharirio sasaidid. “I“It’t’s onone ththinng ifif youou’rre end majority would respond with ‘Chipotle’ with- out a moment’s hesitation,” Murray said. See PELHAM, p. B6 – Andrew Ramonas photo illustration Ryder Haske/assistant photo editor The GW Hatchet | Thursday, February 21, 2008 Thurdsay Friday Saturday Sunday FOUR DAY Page FORECAST 2 HIGH 36 | LOW 32 HIGH 37 | LOW 32 HIGH 46 | LOW 33 HIGH 46 | LOW 35 Elise Kigner – Campus News Editor ([email protected]) Andrew Ramonas – Campus News Editor ([email protected]) Eric Roper – Metro News Editor ([email protected]) Alexa Millinger – Assistant News Editor ([email protected]) CAMPUS White House. The student was CRIMELOG released from Secret Service SNAPSHOT Egg Engineering CALENDAR custody and referred to Student Thursday Judicial Services. Sex Offense Referred to SJS Light Bulb Trade-In 2/15/08 - 22nd and I streets - Drug Law Violation Bring GreenGW an old light 11:00 a.m. - case closed bulb and we will give you a UPD responded to a report of free compact fl uorescent light 2/15/08 - Mitchell Hall - 5:40 indecent exposure. A witness p.m. - case closed bulb and some delicious Fair said a male individual was touch- Trade Chocolate. Help do UPD responded to a report of ing himself inappropriately and a suspicious odor coming from your part for the environment appeared to be having sex with a by switching to this energy- a room in the residence hall. tree. The subject told offi cers he When the occupant of the room effi cient bulb. was just going to the bathroom. 3 to 7 p.m. answered the door, he admitted Metropolitan Police department to offi cers that he was smok- Thurston, Potomac and New offi cials arrived and took the Hall lobbies ing marijuana. The community individual into custody. They director on duty was contacted Sponsored by GreenGW, SA, transported him to D.C. General PB, MCGB to perform an administrative Hospital for observation. search of the room. 3.1 grams Referred to Metropolitan Police The Vagina Monologues of marijuana were confi scated along with drug paraphernalia. A play by Eve Ensler, fully Bomb Threat cast and produced by GW Referred to SJS students. All proceeds from 2/15/08 - Academic Center Liquor Law Violation the event will go to charity. (MVC) - 2:37 p.m. - case Tickets $7 for students, $10 open for non-students. 2/16/08 - Potomac House - A bomb threat was phoned 2:15 a.m. - case closed 7 to 9 p.m. in to an administrative offi ce Jack Morton Auditorium, UPD offi cers observed an in the building. The threat was intoxicated male individual at- SMPA non-specifi c, but the building Sponsored by GW's tempting to enter the building.