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The GW Hatchet

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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D.C. mayor, City Council honor Trachtenberg’s commitment to community

On Monday, D.C.’s outgoing leader celebrated the work of GW’s outgoing leader.

D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams declared Dec. 4, 2006, “Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Day” in honor of the departing president’s commitment to community service at the University and in Washington. The presentation took place on the second floor of the Media and Public Affairs Building.

In addition to Williams’ recognition, the D.C. City Council honored Trachtenberg Tuesday with the “Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Recognition Resolution of 2006.” The resolution stated that since Trachtenberg will leave his post in July, the city wants to recognize his contribution while heading the University.

Trachtenberg said, “it’s a little overwhelming” to have the mayor name a day named after him. Even so, he said receiving the honor is “humbling and an inspiration to work harder.”

After thanking the community for their recognition, Trachtenberg expressed his gratitude to Williams by giving him a GW baseball jacket, which perfectly matched Williams’ buff ‘n’ blue bowtie.

Trachtenberg joked that in the 2008 elections, he and Williams were going to run for the U.S. presidency – a comment sparking roaring laughter from the audience of dozens of students, faculty and administrators.

“We think we can take Florida,” Trachtenberg quipped. “The mayor will get the Jewish vote, and I’ll get the black vote.”

Trachtenberg has participated in philanthropic and community-service activities across the United States, in D.C. and at GW. On the national front, he has a leadership role with the American Jewish Committee. Trachtenberg has served several roles in D.C., such as being a former chairman of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce and current member of the Greater Washington Board of Trade – a chamber of commerce for the D.C. metropolitan region.

Part of Monday’s ceremonies included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new G Street location of the Office of Community Service. Trachtenberg said he is a strong supporter of GW’s community service office because it benefits students and the community.

“(It has) leverage to make it possible for students to get the services they need,” Trachtenberg said. “The building has practical purposes, but serves the city as well.”

Despite a positive relationship with D.C. government, many Foggy Bottom neighbors have found controversy in Trachtenberg’s decisions, such as the development plans for Square 54, the old hospital site across from the Metro station. Trachtenberg said the community’s disagreements are similar to family issues.

“(These are) special issues,” he said. “Sometimes, even in loving families, people quarrel.”

In his acceptance speech for the D.C. Council resolution Tuesday, presented by Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, Trachtenberg gave special thanks for his award to Dorothy Miller. Miller, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, has been the most active opponent of Trachtenberg’s and of GW’s development.

“A special thanks to Dorothy Miller, without whom I couldn’t have done it. She has been an inspiration to me,” he said at the D.C. Council session. “If I felt down, all I needed to do to pick myself up was think of Dorothy and I knew she wasn’t down.”

Council members chuckled while Trachtenberg went on to say he couldn’t have been as successful without Miller’s opposition and passion.

Williams has shown continued support for Trachtenberg throughout the University’s challenges with the local community. In October 2005, Williams told community members they were being too hard on GW’s president. Williams, who has a townhouse in Foggy Bottom, said the neighbors are still missing the good Trachtenberg does.

“He sometimes gets a bad rap, but I think if you are doing good work and making change, sometimes you will upset people,” Williams, who will be replaced by incoming mayor Adrien Fenty in January, said in an e-mail. “I think some of the neighbors in the Foggy Bottom community are too negative about all the benefits that the school brings to our city.”

Trachtenberg said that a longstanding track record of public service in the community would be difficult to match, but he said incoming president Steven Knapp, the provost at The Johns Hopkins University, will continue his and GW’s commitment to service.

Tracy Schario, director of Media Relations, said Knapp’s record backs Trachtenberg’s assurances. “(He) has an exemplary record of community service and dedication to community relations.”

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