Aramark’s grand opening set for Sept. 30

After about a month’s delay in the completion of J Street, Aramark’s grand opening of the space is set to take place Sept. 30.

During the event, which will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m., students will have the chance to win free meals and T-shirts.

Aramark also plans to bring back its weekly “visiting chefs series,” in which last year, restaurants such as Outback Steak House served students in the Marvin Center each Wednesday. Due to space constraints, however, they will be held this year on the Mount Vernon Campus.

Amelia Powell, marketing director for Aramark, said the series will not begin again until the spring semester.

–Bryn Lansdowne

Burnt food leads to evacuation

A piece of burnt food prompted the evacuation of Madison Hall Sunday afternoon, though no injuries were reported. At least five D.C. fire trucks responded to the smoke caused by the burnt food.

At 5:20 p.m., University Police evacuated the residence hall, located at 22nd and H streets. Firefighters, who took about five minutes to respond to UPD’s call, removed the burning food from a seventh floor apartment and ensured that the building was safe.

Seventh floor residents were concerned that the smell of smoke would linger in the hallway. Madison residents practiced a fire drill Friday morning.

“I think people get immune (to fire alarms),” said sophomore Tim Mahedy, who lives on the seventh floor. “Most people got out quick but some stragglers took forever to get out.”

-Nathan Brill

University delays construction of Virginia Campus building

GW’s Virginia Campus is reassessing a planned Transportation Research Institute after construction of the building was halted in August.

Tracy Schario, director of Media Relations, said that further construction of the building, which was slated to open in 2005, will be deferred until officials investigate cost and research objectives.

Peter Comey, executive director of facilities, said that the construction, which will cost the University an estimated $14 million, is not being affected by financial constraints.

Founded in 1996, the Transportation Research Institute will provide a crash-test research facility. The 80,000-square foot building, when completed, will be part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

–Gabriel Okolski