Ivory Tower venues to open in August
As the Ivory Tower nears completion, four dining venues are being installed on the residence hall’s ground and basement floors and should open to students in August.
Occupying the facility’s ground floor will be a sandwich shop accessible from the street. Louis Katz, the University’s executive vice president and treasurer, described the restaurant as a “Potbelly’s-type” dining venue.
The residence hall’s ground floor will house a convenience store, a grocery store and Pita Pit, a health food eatery that has locations in 20 states and Canada.
The University is still trying to reach an agreement with a fifth company that would occupy part of the ground floor’s 120-seat food court. Katz said the company, which he declined to name, hopes to open in late August if it signs a deal with GW.
“They’re still saying they’ll do it by the end of August, but it’ll be really tight,” Katz said.
The Ivory Tower, located at 23rd and G streets, is a 729-bed hall with New Hall-style doubles and quads that will open its doors in August.
-Michael Barnett
Freshmen class to number about 2,600
The University estimated last month that next year’s freshman class will be the largest ever to attend GW.
Michael O’Leary, senior associate director of Undergraduate Admissions, said that 2,590 incoming freshmen have registered for Colonial Inauguration sessions this summer, and that the number represents the likely size of the class of 2008.
If GW’s estimates are correct, the incoming class will eclipse the 2,578 students that entered the University in the fall of 2001.
-Katie Holeman
Dana Carvey, Patti LaBelle to perform at Colonials Weekend
Comedian Dana Carvey and singer Patti LaBelle are set to headline Colonials Weekend with shows October 15 and 16.
The fall event sees thousands of alumni, students and parents gather in Foggy Bottom for a weekend of entertainment.
Carvey is an Emmy award-winning comedian and veteran of “Saturday Night Live.” He is well-known for his popular sketch comedy routines and appearances in major motion pictures such as “Wayne’s World.”
GW has brought several comedians to campus for Colonials Weekend in recent years, including Jay Leno and Whoopi Goldberg.
LaBelle is a Grammy award-winning singer who began her career in the 1960s with Patti LaBelle and the BlueBelles. She has recorded more than 30 albums during her career.
Tickets for both shows, which cost $35 for students and $45 for general admission, are currently on sale online and at the Ticketmaster booth in the Marvin Center.
SJT honored for strengthening Tunisian ties
The Hannibal Club USA awarded University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg last month for strengthening diplomatic ties between the United States and Tunisia.
Trachtenberg was a founding member of the Hannibal Club USA, which honors individuals for their efforts to encourage tolerance and cultural understanding.
Located in Northern Africa, Tunisia borders the Mediterranean Sea and is populated predominantly by Arabs.
Trachtenberg was honored for endeavors such as establishing an Arabic Language Center, bringing cultural Tunisian events to campus and giving a speech to the Tunisian Parliamentarians Association in Tunisia about tolerance and interfaith concepts.
Tunisian Ambassador Hatem Atallah and Hannibal Club USA President Robert H. Pelletreau Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, presented him with the award at a June 16 ceremony.
-Caitlin Carroll
