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Lauren French

is the editor in chief of The GW Hatchet. A senior and Florida native, Lauren has been working at The Hatchet since her freshman year. She started as a reporter covering the dining beat before being hired as an editor and serving as a two-term editor in chief. She has an unhealthy obsession with cardigans and kitten videos.
lfrench@gwhatchet.com · @laurennfrench
Monday, April 2, 2012 12:00 p.m.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker to headline College Democrats event

by Lauren French

Photo courtesy of the College Democrats

The mayor of Newark, N.J. will speak to students as part of a College Democrats event April 15.

Cory Booker is the third African American elected to Newark’s highest office in 2006 and is a potential Democratic candidate for the state’s governorship in 2013.

Booker has gained a national reputation for fighting racial injustice and economic inequality in Newark. In 1999, Booker went on a 10-day hunger strike while living in the one of Newark’s must drug-afflicted wards in the Brick Towers apartment complex.

He was named as a TIME 100 most influential people in the world in 2011.

Booker will speak  at the Jack Morton Auditorium from 8 to 9 p.m.

 

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Monday, March 5, 2012 9:52 p.m.

Gelman evacuated after possible suspect with gun reported on campus

by Lauren French

Updated at 11:44 p.m.

University Police Department officers are allowing students back into Gelman Library following a report earlier this evening that a suspect that was seen with a handgun was later seen in the library.

“We had a report of a possible suspect meeting the description inside the library and police are checking out the report,” University spokeswoman Candace Smith said.

“A student called in a possible suspect at the Gelman Library who was changing clothes.  Law enforcement units from U.S. Park Police, [the Metropolitan Police Department] and [the U.S. Secret Service] searched the library and no suspects were located. The library is reopening now,” a 11:30 p.m. alert said.

Officers pushed students out of range of the building, so H Street between 21 and 22 streets were clear. One University police officer told students to “get inside, and get inside now,” directing them into the Marvin Center.

Secret Service was on scene, according to media outlets.

The Secret Service reported that a man with a handgun was running away from the White House and potentially toward campus, according to a GW Alert sent at 9:32 p.m. Multiple enforcement agencies have searched the campus area and did not find the suspect, according to a new alert sent at 10:20 p.m.

Smith said earlier that the Secret Service, UPD and MPD are investigating the threat.

The man is described as a “white male with a handgun, balding, possibly wearing eye glasses [and] wearing a gray fleece sweater,” according to the alert.

The suspect came from the area of the White House and was heading west toward campus, UPD Chief Kevin Hay said.

The Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department did not have immediate updates.

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Thursday, March 1, 2012 12:00 p.m.

Brian Williams selected as Commencement speaker

by Lauren French

Brian Williams, who hails from New Jersey like many of his Colonial cohorts, will headline the University Commencement Ceremony in May. Photo by David Shankbone and used under Creative Commons.

The University will announce Thursday that a longtime NBC anchor and one of the world’s most-watched journalists will headline the University Commencement Ceremony May 20.

Brian Williams, the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University, more than 30 years after he originally left college degree-less to work for President Jimmy Carter.

His coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the storm’s aftermath earned his high-praise, including an accolade from Vanity Fair which called him ” Murrow-worthy,” after the legendary broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brian Williams back to George Washington. As an accomplished journalist, a student of history and participant in global activities, Brian Williams is an inspiration to our students,” Vice President of External Relations Lorraine Voles said. “Commencement at GW is like no other in the country and we look forward to a memorable event for all involved.”

The former White House correspondent said that leaving college – he briefly attended Brookdale Community College, Catholic University and GW – was one of his “great regrets.”

During his 31-year career, Williams has earned 11 Edward R. Murrow Awards, 12 Emmy Awards, the duPont-Columbia University Award, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism and the George Foster Peabody Award.

In 2010, Williams spoke at the University of Notre Dame’s Commencement where he called on the graduating class to step up and solve national crises like poverty, obesity and education.

Williams marks a break from a recent tradition of tapping politicians to speak to the estimated 20,000 graduates and families at Commencement. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sent off the graduating class of 2011 with jokes last year, first lady Michelle Obama headlined the event in 2010 and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel asked for students to put “all-hands-on-deck” for America in his 2009 speech.

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Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 5:27 p.m.

Virus outbreak hits campus

by Lauren French
Norovirus, Stomach Flue, Thurston, Sick People

Nurse practioners from Student Health Service offered free office hours in Thurston Hall Thursday afternoon for consultations and information about the norovirus. Hatchet File Photo.

Updated Feb. 15, 5:23 p.m.

About 85 students are suffering from a norovirus outbreak, according to a public health notice released by the University Wednesday.

“There is no single commonality among the cases, which have occurred among students living on the Foggy Bottom campus, Mount Vernon campus and off-campus, taking classes, studying and dining in many different locations,” the notice read. GW worked with the D.C. Department of Health to confirm the gastrointestinal illness was a norovirus.

More than 20 million norovirus cases – which spread easily – hit the U.S. yearly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The center’s website recommends individuals wash their hands frequently to avoid falling sick, but warns that there is no vaccine or drugs to prevent or treat the norovirus.

GW is intensifying cleaning efforts at heavily trafficked areas like the Marvin Center, Gelman Library and the Lerner Health and Wellness Center as a response to the outbreak, according to the notice.

Symptoms of the virus outbreak include diarrhea, throwing up, nausea, and stomach cramping. It is contracted through direct and close contract with infected individuals, or by making contact contaminated areas and then touching a person’s mouth.

Students are encouraged to contact GW Student Health Service if they have the virus.

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Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 1:25 p.m.

Hoax e-mail sent to alumni alleges that GW is rescinding diplomas

by Lauren French

Updated at Feb. 3, 2012

An e-mail sent to an unspecified group of alumni today alleged that GW “must retract all diplomas conferred between May, 2007, and December, 2011.”

The e-mail, actually an advertisement for a new company, said that because of failing academic standards, the University made the decision to pull alumni degrees.

“After an extensive, internal investigation, it was discovered that codes of academic integrity were lacking so severely form the fall semester of 2004 until that of 2011 that, in order to maintain our integrity as one of the nation’s premier institutions of learning, we have decided to rescind all the diplomas mentioned,” it read.

The e-mail was adorned with Barack Obama’s signature.

But the e-mail was a mere marketing ploy. Readers who scrolled to the bottom found this message:

“How ridiculous would that be? Ok, you guys will probably be happier to know that this is Zach and Andrew, and we want to tell you about our blog, www.YogurtIdeas.com. Each entry of the blog is an idea for a different business and organization – free, shared, ideas. The blog is fun, and we hope you will take part either by reading, and, hopefully, contributing,” the e-mail reads.

University spokeswoman Candace Smith the University sent a cease and desist to the owners of the site Friday, “directing them to end their use of the GW name, trademarks and President [Steven] Knapp’s name.”

Zach Borenstein said he and his partner Andrew Zahornacky only contacted alumni they personally knew.

“We felt that the content of the e-mail was absurd enough that most would recognize it as a farce, but realize now that we did not fully account for how our friends would react to the letter,” Borenstein said.

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Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 11:44 a.m.

Ben Bernanke to guest lecture in business school class

by Lauren French

Ben Bernanke

The chairman of the Federal Reserve will give four guest lectures to students through a School of Business course this semester, the Federal Reserve and GW announced today.

The class, dubbed “The Federal Reserve and Its Role in Today’s Economy” and taught by professor Tim Fort, will be open to undergraduate students with a basic understanding of the Federal Reserve. It will begin March 20.

Chairman Ben Bernanke will attend the March 20, 22, 27 and 29 classes.

“Chairman Bernanke’s distinguished career and tenure at the Federal Reserve place him in a unique position to provide GWSB students with an unmatched understanding of the Federal Reserve’s role in today’s economy,” business school dean Doug Guthrie said.

Bernanke first took over as Federal Reserve chairman in February 2006, and began his second term in 2010.

Interested students must apply for the 1.5 credit course. GW will announce the process at a later date. The course will also be streamed online.

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Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 9:42 a.m.

Law student unexpectedly dies in sleep

by Lauren French

Updated at 5:48 p.m.

Law and business school student Benjamin Gupta died Monday in his D.C. home. He was 28 years old.

An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death. Family members told the Omaha World Herald that Gupta died in his sleep.

The JD and MBA candidate worked as a partnership coordinator for the Global Partnership Initiative – a State Department program that brings together public and private groups to collaborate on diaspora, economic, health and sustainability-related projects.

“We were stunned to hear of Ben’s passing, and I am deeply saddened by the loss of one of our stand-out students,” GW School of Business Dean Doug Guthrie said.

Gupta attended the Phillips Exeter Academy and Boston University, where he received a bachelor of arts in economics and psychology. The Omaha, Neb. native worked as a staff assistant for then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., in 2007.

A memorial service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home at 5130 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

The family asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the World Education Foundation in Omaha.

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Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 4:57 p.m.

Graduate student dies from illness, University to hold memorial

by Lauren French

Graduate student Jenny Gonzalez Perdomo died Tuesday from a sudden illness.

A master’s student in the women’s studies program, Perdomo lived in Fairfax, Va. She was a member of the GW Graduate Feminists and worked at the D.C. chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. She was also an intern at the American Association of University Women.

Perdomo received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida.

The women’s studies department is holding a memorial service for Perdomo at 5:30 p.m.  The memorial is at 837 22nd St.

She is survived by her husband Ralph.

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Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 4:46 p.m.

Director of the University Counseling Center resigns

by Lauren French

Director of the University Counseling Center John Dages' resignation date is effective Dec. 30 of this year. File Photo

The director of the University Counseling Center abruptly resigned Thursday after facing charges from former employees of incompetent leadership and inappropriate professional behavior.

“Dr. John Dages has resigned from the university effective Dec. 30, 2011,” Dean of Students Peter Konwerski said.

After four out of nine full-time employees resigned between July and September citing strife with the leadership, the University created a five-month long improvement plan for director John Dages and associate director Barbara Brown. Administrators declined this week to comment on how the plan specifically addresses allegations that Dages’ leadership created a work environment that harmed student health.

Former employees claim the center has been mismanaged under Dages, who took the helm in 2009, and Brown, who was hired in 2004. One counselor said the “dysfunctional” work environment was caused by “indecisive leadership” and “hands-off management.”

A clinician – who left this spring after two years at the center and spoke on the condition of anonymity in late November because she still works in the counseling field – described Dages as “unprofessional,” citing his demands regarding workload, threats to fire staff, comments about personal lives and rare presence at the center.

A nationwide search for a new director will begin immediately, Konwerski said. Senior Associate Dean of Students Mark Levine will serve as interim director until a new director is hired.

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Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 2:54 p.m.

Obama, Bush to speak at GW Thursday

by Lauren French
President Barack Obama 2010

President Barack Obama spoke at GW last year in the Marvin Center where he encouraged young voters to mobilize before the midterm elections. File photo

Updated: Wednesday at 4:31 p.m.

President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush will speak at a ONE Campaign event in the Jack Morton Auditorium, the White House announced Monday.

The event, called “The Beginning of the End of AIDS,” will be Thursday at 10 a.m.

Panelists will include Obama, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., U2 lead singer Bono and Alicia Keys in person and Bush, former President Bill Clinton, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania via satellite.

User-submitted questions will be streamed from YouTube with an unannounced moderator leading the discussion.

Tickets will not be available to the public, with student tickets going to the executive board of the GW ONE Campus Challenge. The University announced security measures for the event Wednesday, with plans to relocate a half-dozen classes and shut down streets surrounding the venue.

Other panelists include: Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah, the director of PMTCT Clinic at Tema Hospital in Accra, Ghana, Florence Ngobeni, an HIV educator and ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Kay Warren, the  founder of the HIV & AIDS Initiative.

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