Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 2:29 p.m.
It’s somewhat surprising that GW has a long history of gun debate on campus, especially when you consider that our campus has a strict no-firearm policy in the Student Code of Conduct, and even the repeal on the D.C. gun ban had little to no effect on our campus. The latest spark in the debate came from a column by Tom Braslavsky discussing D.C.’s horrendous choice between gaining representation and implementing laws pushed by the pro-gun lobby. In addition, the College Republicans made a trip out of the District this past week to test their hands at shooting, something they can trace back at least to 2001.
Last year, the arguments about guns focused on whether or not UPD officers would be armed. After very intense scrutiny, and a review by an outside consultant, it was decided that GW would not be giving firearms to its police officers. Many were quick to take sides, but few if any of those vocal on the topic had access to the data necessary to make that decision; most important of which was the reaction time of the Metropolitan Police Department versus that of UPD.
Digging a little bit further into GW’s history, one finds the efforts of a few enterprising students to start a pro-gun ownership group. Ironically, this a few months after the killings happened just a few hours away at Virginia Tech.
Sadly, as of Sunday, we have another reminder about the dangers of gun violence. A 9-year-old boy was killed in Columbia Heights during an attempted robbery. The boy was apparently fleeing into his apartment after shots rang out, but was killed attempting to reach safety. There will be those who use the twisted logic that if more people had guns this situation would never have happened (if everybody had a gun ready nobody would ever use them, right?). But the argument can’t be applied in this case, there were officers already in the area and still the tragedy occurred.
The gun ownership advocates and opponents can argue the second amendment all they want, but forcing D.C. to choose between representation and relaxing its gun laws is immoral. Personally, I’m just sad to say that we have lost a fellow Northwest resident to a gun in a city, that for the most part, doesn’t want them.
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 3:11 p.m.
Junior Andrew Clark, a Hatchet columnist and member of the GW College Republican’s executive board, describes the noticeable lack of political fervor after the excitement of last year’s presidential campaign.
Alcohol isn’t the only thing that can give you a hangover. This year, Obama-mania will give it to you as well. President Obama has been in office for nine months. Regardless of your political persuasion, as we return to campus, we can all agree that the Obama-mania was extremely overrated.
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 2:59 p.m.
Sophomore Lyndsey Wajert, the Hatchet’s contributing opinions editor, argues that GW should be aiming at improvements regardless of ranking.
Naturally, a rise in ratings may bring about more publicity, which can lead to an increase in applicants and greater selectivity. But does GW’s unchanged ranking mean that the applicant pool for the class of 2014 will be exactly the same? If we fell to 54th, or climbed into the top 50, would the pool significantly change? An association is not necessarily a causal link.
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 2:48 p.m.
The Hatchet’s editorial board argues that controversial speakers are an important part of a well rounded college experience.
A new record may have been set this year for how quickly controversy came to GW’s campus. It’s only two days into the new academic year, and already two different public figures have stirred emotions in Foggy Bottom. Yesterday, the coup-removed President of Honduras, Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales, spoke at the Elliott School. Only hours later, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell (R) spoke in the Marvin Center. Regardless of our personal reservations toward both speakers, the Hatchet’s editorial board wholeheartedly supports their appearances on campus.
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 2:31 p.m.
The Hatchet’s editorial board explains its hopes, and fears, for the seemingly rejuvenated Colonial Army.
In the past two years, perhaps the only thing more dismal than the performance of GW men’s basketball has been the performance of their supposed fan section, the Colonial Army. Nonetheless, it seems this year the once prominent student organization has been given new life. With new leadership, reserved seating and support from administrators, it is now time for the Colonial Army to prove that GW can successfully maintain a fan base for its athletes.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 5:35 p.m.
Google has a very specific view of the future of computing. It’s called “cloud” computing, a belief that most computing will sooner or later be done online. Typically, this includes everything currently done on your operating system. This allows you to access documents and data conveniently from any remote location running the cloud operating system. Think Google Documents, expanded exponentially.
But one of the many dangers in moving this direction is days like today. Google mail went down earlier this afternoon, bringing the productivity of many to a halt. This included GW students’ ability to access their university e-mail accounts. Luckily, GW staff utilizes the older Cmail system, but if GW continues to move in this direction – and with increased ease of programs like Google Documents, it is likely they will – it should keep these days in mind. More reliance on cloud computing means more risk.
This is not to say the idea of cloud computing is bad, or even that GW should avoid it. But imagine if Gmail hadn’t come up within a few hours – what if it had been a few days? The ease of cloud computing should not cloud the University’s vision when it comes to the security and continuity of its technology base.
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 1:38 p.m.
The Hatchet’s editorial board looks at the next phase of GW’s green movement.
GW jumped from being one of the nation’s five least eco-friendly universities to the middle of the pack last week, according to environmental group The Sierra Club. Earning a No. 81 ranking out of 135 is a positive step for one of University President Stephen Knapp’s favorite initiatives, but now the true challenge begins. If GW is serious about becoming a truly green institution, it is time to eliminate the excuses and challenge ourselves to confront the stumbling blocks toward sustainability.
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 1:34 p.m.
Junior Jordan Phillips, founder of the Revolution Green LLC, offers advice for reducing your carbon footprint this year.
Doing laundry can be banal and repetitive, yet our actions leave behind a sizeable energy footprint.
When washing your clothes, for instance, between 85 and 90 percent of the energy used by the machine is just for heating water, according to Energy Star, the official government organization tasked with labeling energy-efficient products. By switching from hot to warm water you can cut your electricity usage in half.
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 1:23 p.m.
Senior Josh Akman, a Hatchet columnist, describes the worst advice he ever got as a freshman.
In the months leading up to my freshman year at GW, I experienced something of an identity crisis. The crisis, though, wasn’t with my identity – it was with the identity that I was encouraged to create. I was an 18-year-old diehard sports fan who enjoyed sarcasm, politics, Will Ferrell movies and Mexican food. The problem was, everyone around me was convincing me that this just wasn’t good enough.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 11:34 a.m.
Senior Juliette Dallas-Feeney, a Hatchet columnist, argues that students have a vested interest in the current health care debate.
Amidst the raucous health care town halls and protests over the summer, older Americans often took center stage voicing their concerns. But young people across the country are beginning to realize that whatever plan passes through Congress will directly affect them, for better or for worse. A few weeks ago, a University of Colorado student, Zach Lahn, made headlines when he questioned the President’s proposal of a public option, challenging him to an Oxford-style debate. Earlier this summer, a student group named Campus Progress protested on Capitol Hill for affordable health insurance.
